2025 has shaped up to be a promising year for the travel industry—according to the U.S. Travel Association, travel spending is on a continuous rise. And Deloitte’s 2025 Travel Industry Outlook found that 40% of respondents who had increased their travel budgets said it was because “travel has become more important to me since the pandemic,” pointing to a desire for new experiences.  

However, while hotel operators are feeling optimistic, they remain wary. Despite the uptick in bookings, they're struggling to overcome the lingering effects of inflation and rising labor costs, which continue to weigh on their bottom line. Add unpredictable interest rates to the mix, and many hoteliers are being forced to tighten their belts, seeking innovative cost-saving and revenue-generating strategies to stay competitive.

As hoteliers seek innovative new solutions, they may be surprised to find an opportunity in every single guest room—through their TVs. Here are four surprising ways entertainment technology can help unlock new revenue streams, cut costs, and enhance guest experience.

From Screen to Profit Machine

1. Partner with local businesses to sell ad space

Guests are increasingly seeking out local experiences to customize their trip, whether it’s exploring outdoor spaces, attending a cultural event, or discovering the city’s best pizza. A McKinsey survey found that younger generations in particular are willing to dole out more money for experiences while traveling. 

However, they don’t want to page through dusty racks of outdated materials in the lobby. Now, hotels can use customizable TV screens to replace collateral with digital advertising, generating a new revenue stream from local businesses eager to reach this audience.

“For hoteliers, OnStream is more than just entertainment,” says Peter Feeney, Vice President for DISH Business. “It’s a powerful tool for customization. Owners and property managers can use it to promote on-site amenities, update digital menus, and replace outdated lobby pamphlets with targeted ads for local businesses.”

2. Maximize revenue with group bookings

From corporate events to weddings, group sales continue to be a bright spot for hotels—CBRE expects REvPAR for U.S. hotels to grow 2% in 2025 as a result of group demand, business travel, and other factors. Hotels can stand out in a competitive landscape and appeal to this thriving market by tailoring messages to different guest segments enjoying your property.

“Hotels hosting weddings, conferences, or corporate retreats can personalize in-room screens with welcome messages, event schedules, or branded content—creating a more connected, memorable experience for groups,” Feeney suggests.

This surprise and delight can help win loyalty, generating exceptional reviews and repeat visits from guests who recognize additional potential in your location. For example, it may spur an impressed business traveler to decide to book the venue for a family reunion or a wedding guest to inquire about holding a corporate retreat. 

3. Advertise paid amenities to boost non-room revenue

Smart hoteliers know that additional revenue streams help them maximize every square inch of their property so they’ll want to let visitors know what’s available—from spa and wellness services to dining and retail opportunities. 

Instead of relying on in-room brochures, which are easily overlooked and quickly outdated, use the in-room entertainment system—transforming those blank screens into billboards for your brand, with enticing photos of your properties’ features. 

In addition, using in-room technology to showcase hotel features can free up staff time from answering routine questions to providing more personalized hospitality. Using technology can help hotels do more with the resources they have—helping alleviate the labor shortages that continue to plague the hospitality industry.

4. Enhance loyalty with an upgraded in-room viewing experience

A Morning Consult survey finds that hotel guests’ perception of “luxury” might defy traditional definitions. These days, they are more likely to associate the word with a desire to feel relaxed and comfortable and receive great customer service when they travel.

What truly sets exceptional properties apart is their meticulous attention to details—and that includes thoughtful entertainment options, such as the best of live TV, app streaming and casting owned content from personal devices. 

As Feeney points out, linear TV is table stakes today, and guests expect more. “We live in an on-demand world where thousands of shows and movies are instantly accessible at the touch of a button. Naturally, guests want that same convenience in their hotel rooms, and it’s quickly shifting from a ‘nice-to-have’ to an expectation,” he says. 

Research bears this out, with Hospitality Technology’s Customer Engagement Technology survey finding 70% of guests consider access to streaming services on in-room TVs when choosing a hotel, which is why he sees many brands updating their standards to meet that preference. 

“We built OnStream with today's guest preferences in mind. By combining live TV, streaming, and casting together in one platform, OnStream helps tackle two clear goals: make it effortless for guests to find the content they want and deliver added value for hoteliers,” he says. “For guests, we built in universal search so they can instantly find what they want across live TV, OnDemand, and streaming services—taking the frustration out of clicking through app after app.”

And because OnStream automatically clears login credentials from streaming apps at checkout, hotels can be confident they are protecting guest data.

Driving Revenue, Cutting Costs

Working with DISH Business allows hotels to drive revenue, cut costs, and provide tools beyond TV service. In fact, DISH Business already powers over 2 million rooms and is the preferred partner for leading hospitality brands and properties of all types and sizes. With cutting-edge entertainment solutions, hoteliers can enhance guest engagement, boost ancillary sales, and create new monetization channels that go beyond traditional room revenue—all while reducing costs and boosting operational efficiency.

“At the end of the day, it’s about keeping guests engaged, driving more revenue, and making sure your hotel stays ahead of the curve,” Feeney says.

Take a tour of OnStream today with an interactive online experience.

And if you're attending AAHOACON25, stop by Booth #1541 for a hands-on demonstration of OnStream to see how you can customize and monetize your entertainment with this user-friendly platform. DISH Business is the Official Video Provider of AAHOA and is offering exclusive deals during the event.