Panasonic claim that this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of plasma screen technology however. “Room for improvement remains, as the PDP’s full potential is still yet to be realised,” says Panasonic marketing Middle East general manager, system solutions,Yasuo Yamasaki.
“In response to customer demands across the world, we continue to explore new technologies in the hope of opening up a new area for Plasma TVs.”

TVs are not simply restricted to the bedroom area of hotels however — now the entertainment for guests stretches to the bathroom too, with high definition mirror TVs. Screens that vanish completely when switched off provide a discreet way to bring entertainment to the bathroom area and one that does not interfere with the functionality of the room.

However there are many aspects to in-room technology that guests have come to expect from their hotel when they travel.

“The bottom line is that guests expect the same media facilities that they have at home or in the office,” says RoomWithNet’s Carol Prince.

“These days hotel guests expect a high level of entertainment choice. Traditionally, hoteliers have provided very little entertainment in the guest room other than the conventional television showing news channels and out of date movies.

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“With guests expecting home from home or office from office environments, attitudes in hotels have had to move with the times and offer the latest media entertainment, be it MP3, MP4 or iPod docking stations, USB ports or multi channel TV.”

These plug-and-play items feature a functionality that offers greater personalisation to a guest’s stay. 

RoomWithNet’s universal MP3 docking cube is one such product, offering an all-in one system that a guest can use instantly with their MP3. Companies such as Bose offer full iPod compatibility on some models, including the Wave, enabling hotels to provide a quality compact system that guests use to personalise their stay.

Hotels spend large sums of money on functional items like beds and  bathroom items, so why should they not spend on functional entertainment items?

As Prince says, “Hoteliers need to see that by offering increased technology does not have to be seen as a cost to bear but as a revenue maker instead.” And in today’s financial climate, this is what matters.