I recently asked my mom how she used to plan travel accommodations when she was growing up. Believe it or not, she did it without Google (News - Alert), without hotel review websites and without any image of what she was getting herself into. What customers expect once they reach the hotel has also changed. Today, travelers demand mobile video when searching for hotels.

A recent survey conducted by Smith Micro Software (News - Alert), a mobile content company, found that travelers are showing an increasing preference for hotels that offer mobile video content. The survey polled around 700 smartphone and tablet users on their travel and mobile content consumption habits and preferences.

Travelers are opting for the ability to obtain Pay-Per-View (PPV) and video content services that can be accessed through mobile devices. Around 67 percent of survey respondents said they are more likely to purchase content that can be accessed with a tablet or smartphone when staying at hotels. About 75 percent of those surveyed said they are likely to book a hotel if it offers content services and videos that can be accessed through smartphones.

“We’re seeing consumer preferences move away from static TV and toward viewing content from any device, anywhere,” said Jim Mains, senior vice president of products and programs at Smith Micro. “Historically, the hospitality industry has faced many challenges in devising a content strategy that would address shifts in consumer behavior while replacing lost revenue from consumers using their own devices for content. While business travelers and vacationers have different preferences, one constant remains, accessing video content from a mobile device is a valuable asset and ultimately a deciding factor when selecting a hotel.”

Around 72 percent of respondents were interested in watching hotel video content from their mobile device and 88 percent were keen to access mobile video offered through the Wi-Fi of a preferred hotel.

The amount of information that can be accessed and the speed in which it can be delivered on a mobile device is becoming unreal. To some, this Hotels.com commercial above may not seem too farfetched.

Want to learn more about today’s powerful mobile Internet ecosystem? Then be sure to attend the Mobility Tech Conference & Expo, collocated with ITEXPO West 2012 taking place Oct. 2-5 2012, in Austin, TX. Co-sponsored by TMC (News - Alert) Partner Crossfire Media the Mobility Tech Conference & Expo provides unmatched networking opportunities and a robust conference program representing the mobile ecosystem. The conference not only brings together the best and brightest in the wireless industry, it actually spans the communications and technology industry. For more information on registering for the Mobility Tech Conference & Expo click here.

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