I read user suggestions that TiVo do this for years, and now they’re doing it – the Morgans Hotel Group will be putting TiVo in the rooms of their new Mondrian in South Beach. Based on the description of what will be available, it sounds like this will be using the TiVo HD. It will be available to all Mondrian residents and guests starting with the official opening on December 1st.
I have mixed feelings about this. It is certainly nice to have TiVo available, but I think it will make the most sense for people with extended stays. If you’re not going to be there for long, you probably won’t spend a lot of time programming your SPs, etc. But I can think of ways that this could be much more usable.
For a while now I’ve been asking TiVo to do something to allow users to synchronize their settings, SPs, WLs, etc, between units. This would be very useful when users upgrade to a newer TiVo, or when something happens that requires a replacement, or just the loss of the data due to a drive failure, etc. Such a feature would also be very nice for situations like these. You show up in the hotel, go to the TiVo and ‘log in’ to your account, and all of your settings automatically download and the TiVo is your TiVo. When the guest checks out the hotel could reset it automatically, ready for the next guest.
I’m curious if there is any integration with other hotel systems as well. I see a lot of potential there. Most of you have probably stayed at hotels and are familiar with the on-screen account systems that let you review your folio, check out, etc. That could easily be done using Home Media Engine to use the TiVo as the interactive platform. Beyond that HME applications could be used to make reservations for dinner, to access information on local events and services, etc. TiVo would provide quite a powerful STB platform with HME. And I could easily see TiVo used for video on demand services as well, with a local server and a fast network connection.
I can see many ways TiVo would be used in a hotel environment, beyond just a stock TiVo in the room, but it isn’t clear if anything along those lines has been done here or is in the cards.
Press release:
TIVO AND MORGANS HOTEL GROUP TEAM UP TO REDEFINE IN-ROOM ENTERTAIMENT
Deal Brings TiVo to the Hotel Room Enabling Guests to Watch TV on Their Terms
NEW YORK, New York and ALVISO, California, November 12, 2008 — TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), and Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC), the groundbreaking innovator that introduced the world to iconic brands such as Delano in South Beach, Royalton and Hudson in New York City, and Sanderson in London, today announced that they are bringing the luxuries of in-home entertainment to the hotel by offering the TiVo service in all rooms throughout Morgans’ newest property, the highly anticipated Mondrian in South Beach.
Joe Miller, Senior Vice President, Consumer Sales and Distribution for TiVo Inc. said, “When traveling, schedules can be unpredictable and television choices in hotels are typically limited, making it far more difficult to watch your favorite programs… until now. For the first time in any hotel, guests of the new Mondrian in South Beach can enjoy the TiVo service right in their rooms, so they know that after enjoying dinner in Miami their favorite show will be waiting for them when they get back to their rooms.”
Mondrian guests will be able to use the Emmy® award-winning TiVo user interface to record, pause, and rewind live TV, as well as set-up recordings of their favorite shows, and even use WishList® searches to find programs with their favorite actors or directors. The benefit of the TiVo experience doesn’t end there, as guests will have the option of recording two shows at the same time, while watching a third previously recorded show.
“We don’t want our guests to have a compromised TV experience when they stay with us. Quite the opposite,” said Scott Williams Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer of Morgans Hotel Group. “Our guests expect innovation from every encounter in our hotels. They love all things digital and TiVo is the coolest, most ground-breaking digital invention of the century and the perfect complement to our guest’s TV experience. We’re giving our guests cool tools to manage their lifestyle and maximize their experience; no more sacrifices when they travel.”
Miller added, “We are thrilled to be working with Morgans on this first of its kind initiative. Morgans has a reputation for providing only the best services and amenities to its guests and TiVo complements this commitment by offering the best, most personalized way to watch television.”
The TiVo service will be available to all residents and guests of Mondrian in South Beach when it officially opens on December 1st.
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About TiVo Inc.
Founded in 1997, TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO – News) pioneered a brand new category of products with the development of the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). Sold through leading consumer electronic retailers and our website, TiVo has developed a brand which resonates boldly with consumers as providing a superior television experience. Through agreements with leading satellite and cable providers, TiVo also integrates its DVR service features into the set-top boxes of mass distributors. TiVo’s DVR functionality and ease of use, with such features as Season Pass™ recordings and WishList® searches and TiVo KidZone, have elevated its popularity among consumers and have created a whole new way for viewers to watch television. With a continued investment in its patented technologies, TiVo is revolutionizing the way consumers watch and access home entertainment. Rapidly becoming the focal point of the digital living room, TiVo’s DVR is at the center of experiencing new forms of content on the TV, such as broadband delivered video, music and photos. With innovative features, such as TiVoToGo™ transfers and online scheduling, TiVo is expanding the notion of consumers experiencing “TiVo, TV your way.®” The TiVo® service is also at the forefront of providing innovative marketing solutions for the television industry, including a unique platform for advertisers and audience research measurement.
TiVo, ‘TiVo, TV your way.’, Season Pass, WishList, TiVoToGo, Stop||Watch, Power||Watch, and the TiVo Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. © 2008 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About Morgans Hotel Group
Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, Morgans, Royalton and Hudson in New York, Delano and Shore Club in Miami, Mondrian in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Clift in San Francisco, and Sanderson and St Martins Lane in London. MHG and an equity partner also own the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and related assets. MHG has other property transactions in various stages of completion, including projects in Miami Beach, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; SoHo, New York; Las Vegas, Nevada; Palm Springs, California; Boston, Massachusetts; and Dubai, UAE. For more information please visit www.morganshotelgroup.com.
