Marriott is trialing Hulu, Netflix, Pandora and free GoPro rentals at select locations

Shawn Knight

Posts: 15,255   +192
Staff member

After coming under fire for blocking personal Wi-Fi hotspots belonging to its guests, the Marriott hotel chain is hoping a couple of new amenities will help repair its tarnished image.

One of the new amenities currently being tested in eight of the company’s hotels is the ability to let its customers access Hulu, Netflix and Pandora through their in-room television. A person familiar with the matter said Marriott is just one several hotel chains that have considered offering Netflix to their guests.

Now while I realize that most people’s idea of a vacation isn’t to travel to a far-away destination just to sit in your room and binge-watch House of Cards, I can vouch for the fact that being limited to a handful of random channels and expensive on-demand movies is rather annoying when you’re lounging in bed at night.

It’s one of those situations that sounds like a win-win-win for everyone involved. Hotel customers get access to a wide range of content, the hotel gets yet another amenity to help attract guests and Netflix gets an opportunity to showcase its service to those that may not be familiar with what they have to offer.

Bloomberg wasn’t clear as to whether or not the Marriott plans to charge guests for the service. Assuming they do, it’d be yet another revenue stream for the hotel chain.

Another amenity – this time a freebie – is being offered to guests visiting a Marriott hotel in the Caribbean or Latin America: a complimentary GoPro Hero 4 camera to use during your vacation.

The GoPro loaner program is currently being trialed at 17 locations. Those interested in participating simply need to let the front desk know they’d like to check out a camera during their stay. Guests are even invited to share their footage with the company to be included on their dedicated GoPro website.

The following hotels are participating in the trial:

  • Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
  • CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort
  • CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
  • Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose
  • Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino
  • Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort
  • Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort
  • JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
  • JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort
  • JW Marriott Hotel Lima
  • JW Marriott Hotel Quito
  • JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro
  • JW Marriott El Convento Cusco
  • JW Marriott Panama Golf & Beach Resort
  • Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort
  • San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
  • St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino

Permalink to story.

 
Back