Setting a new standard for hotel TVs: With Chromecast built-in, access to thousands of apps via Google Play Store, voice control, free software/feature upgrades, and Netflix-ready, Philips MediaSuite is the world’s first ever Android TV range designed exclusively for the hotel room experience.

ATLANTA – PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips professional displays, will be exhibiting its new range of ‘cutting-edge’ Philips professional hospitality TVs, interactive displays, and digital signage solutions for the first time in North America next week, with the manufacturer confirming its debut attendance at the hospitality industry’s biggest annual event – the 2021 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show (AAHOACON21), August 3-6. 

Hosted by the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) – the largest hotel owners association in the nation with 19,500 members – and hailed as one of the most anticipated industry tradeshows of the year – AAHOACON is one of the largest and most significant gatherings in the country, attracting up to 775 exhibitors and over 8,000 visitors*, including leading professionals, politicians, business leaders, and hotel owners. 

Held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Texas, visitors to the PPDS booth (#644) will be among the first in North America to view, test and receive one-to-one demonstrations of its latest, ‘new for 2021’ range of dedicated hospitality solutions. Key new products being showcased at the event will include the Philips T-Line interactive HD display range and the recently launched ‘revolutionary’ Philips MediaSuite TVs – the world’s first ever Android TVs specifically designed for the hotel room experience. 

‘Forget what you thought you knew about hotel TVs’

Unveiled as part of the company’s historic return to the hospitality market in North America in April this year, Philips MediaSuite (available in 43”, 50”, 55”, 65” and 75” displays)  is the world’s most advanced, guest-centric hotel TV range to date, bringing extensive features (including BYOD), security and capabilities to meet the demands and needs of the modern guests to help them feel at home. 

From 10” control displays (ideal for wayfinding, meeting room booking information) to vast, creative unlimited LED videowalls (reception, hotel rooms, restaurants, bars, ballrooms), PPDS’ extensive range of innovative solutions for hospitality have been designed exclusively to provide the highest quality experience for guests and visitors (including corporate events), from the moment they walk inside the building to the minute they leave. 

PPDS Director for Hospitality Sales in North America, Scott Adams, who will be in Dallas for the show, commented: “We’re thrilled to be able to demonstrate Philips MediaSuite and our other dedicated solutions for the hospitality industry in North America – and there’s no better place to do it than AAHOACON21.”

He continued: “Forget any preconceptions you have about what hotel TVs can and, perhaps more appropriately, cannot do. With MediaSuite, we’re bringing a solution fit for the needs and demands of the customer of today, mirroring the experience they are accustomed to at home. Viewing habits have moved forward and hotel TVs have not caught up. With MediaSuite, hoteliers are prepared for whatever changes the future has in store. When we say ‘futureproof’, we mean it.” 

Joe King, VP, PPDS Commercial Displays, North America, also attending, added: “We can’t wait to finally be able to showcase this incredible range to North America for the first time at AAHOACON21. We promise that after seeing Philips MediaSuite in action, your views on hotel TVs will change forever.”

Examples of features on Philips MediaSuite include:

• Feel at home: Chromecast built-in, allows guests to take control of their entertainment decision, by streaming and viewing their own content – be it photos, movies, music, or even presentations – instantly and in up to 4K from their compatible (BYOD) laptop or mobile device (IOS, Android or Windows) with just the touch of a button and with no new apps or additional hardware required.
• Running on the Android TV OS, guests have access to thousands of popular apps on Google Play, including popular services such as local news, weather, and traffic information, as well as content streaming from providers such as YouTube, Deezer, Spotify, Disney+, Plex, among others.
• What about Netflix? Philips MediaSuite TVs are among the first on the planet to feature the option to offer integrated Netflix, making watching the latest movies and shows from your account easier, faster and more convenient. There’s no need for any external players or satellite TV, which helps keep operational costs down and installations neat, whilst maintaining a modern look for your establishment. A dedicated Netflix button on the remote provides instant access for efficient usability. 
• Google Assistant’s voice control functionality, provides guests with a new level of control, allowing them to control their TV – whether it’s opening YouTube, adjusting the volume, playing their favorite songs, or getting info on the latest news and weather, through the power of their voice.

A video demonstration of Philips MediaSuite features can be viewed here.

Manage your experience / futureproof your investment 

At the back end, Philips MediaSuite TVs also provide extensive control and management options and opportunities, allowing hoteliers to take full control of the guest experience. This ranges from remote updates and problem solving, fully customized interfaces (including coloring, branding, menu layout), personalization for guests (such as welcome messages), internal marketing offers, feedback forms, user analytics, and much more. Guests can even control TVs with their cell phone, should they wish, via the GuestConnect app.

Protecting a hotelier’s investment – and addressing current financial challenges after lengthy closures and loss of business – all Philips MediaSuite TVs come with the company’s Extended Lifetime promise**. This allows TVs to literally get better with age, with models able to be updated as and when new technology becomes available (including the latest features and security patches) via the latest Android TV OS releases. 

Show guests you care

Jeroen Verhaeghe, International Business Manager for hospitality at PPDS and the mastermind behind Philips MediaSuite, concluded: “Our focus is always to support and truly understand the needs of the market, not only to solve their existing and future challenges, but to help maximize their investments.

“Philips MediaSuite is a true game-changer for hotel TVs and one of the most advanced and disruptive products seen in the hospitality market for many years. With Chromecast built-in, unlimited access to the Google Play Store, coupled with our extensive back-end control and management platform and our Extended Lifetime promise, MediaSuite TVs have everything you need to show your guests you care about their needs and their expectations.”

Joe concluded: “Our focus is always to support and truly understand the needs of the market, not only to solve their existing and future challenges, but to help maximize their investments. We have assembled a highly knowledgeable and experienced team and have launched what we consider to be the most complete hospitality TV found anywhere in the current market. The value of Philips MediaSuite to the hotelier and to the hotel guest is vast, with our strategy to offer long-term value something that aligns perfectly with the hotel industry during these challenging times. Ensuring guests have a comparable, if not better, TV experience to the one at home. We look forward to seeing you all in Dallas.”