Foxtel is powering guest experience and hotel revenue
Scott Wiedemann, Foxtel’s National Accommodation Manager, shares how the company is transforming in-room entertainment
Foxtel isn’t just about great TV. Scott Wiedemann, Foxtel’s National Accommodation Manager, shares how the company’s Business iQ platform is transforming in-room entertainment into a powerful tool for driving revenue and elevating the guest experience.
Mandy Clarke: Scott, great to see you again at NoVacancy. Last time we spoke, you talked about how Foxtel was reshaping the in-room experience. What’s changed since then?
Scott Wiedemann: It has been a big year under the exciting new ownership of DAZN. We have been busy locking up sport broadcasts rights while also reinvesting and evolving our Business iQ platform with the latest technology and fresh content. We are focused on maximising upsell opportunities and making the system more cost-efficient for operators. We are a premium product, but we want to help properties offset costs through guest engagement, encouraging impulse buys, repeat stays and direct bookings.
Mandy: Operators here are always asking about value for money. How does Business iQ help them deliver a premium guest experience while staying cost conscious?
Scott: Business iQ is built to pay for itself. The interactive interface does more than entertain; it drives revenue. Guests can book spa treatments, order room service, reserve late check-out or browse onsite dining and tours, all from the TV. When you can market directly in-room, cut printing costs and update content centrally, it changes the economics. Our goal is a seamless, onshore platform with strong local support that operators can rely on without constant tech headaches.
Read the latest edition of AccomNews HERE
Mandy: Return on investment is always top of mind. What is your strongest case to operators about upgrading?
Scott: The biggest selling point is having everything on one platform. Often hotels try to integrate several different systems which opens up multiple points of failure. Business iQ is user friendly for guests and easy to manage for operators. We see properties drive significant spend by turning the TV into a digital concierge with on-screen advertising and marketing channels. On top of that, everything is managed centrally via the AWS Cloud so updates happen in one click. That efficiency alone offsets downtime and drastically minimises negative guest feedback.
Mandy: You mentioned new features coming. What is next for Business iQ?
Scott: Our next major platform upgrade planned for next year will be a major step forward. It focuses on removing hardware and re-cabling needs, streamlining the experience for a truly future-proof solution.
Early 2026 will see our first phase of embedded Apps being introduced where Hotel Loyalty Programs can be accessed and controlled via our home page. We are also planning to introduce QR code analytics so operators can see which parts of their digital compendiums and QR links get the most engagement. That will give powerful insight for upselling and content decisions.
Read More Supplier News at AccomNews HERE
We are introducing a digital concierge team that assists sites create their digital compendiums with ongoing management to ensure they are using the platform to its greatest potential. This will be a great benefit to our many smaller regional hotel/motels who often lack the resources to manage. After-hours support will be increased while artificial intelligence will also play a role in the coming months, including chatbots to help with troubleshooting and self-help management.
Looking further ahead, we have some exciting partnerships pending that will assist with sustainability resulting in cost savings. It will help create a seamless guest journey while keeping costs under control.
Mandy: That is a big shift from the Foxtel people once knew as just a content provider.
Scott: Absolutely. I have been with Foxtel for 18 years and I am proud of how far we have come. We started as a content deliverer but now we are a technology leader. We have completed seven major upgrades in the past five years with plenty more to come. We are winning back flagship sites and big-name brands with emphasis back on in-room experience. With over 700 hotels signed to Business iQ, our commercial team is experiencing continued growth which allows us to reinvest and deliver the best for our customers.
Mandy: And on a personal note, what has been a highlight for you this past year?
Scott: Personally, completing the Business iQ roll-out at The Star Brisbane and now The Star Sydney has been a huge milestone. And seeing our platform evolve into something operators can truly rely on has been very rewarding.
Mandy: Finally, with cost pressures and rising guest expectations dominating conversations at NoVacancy, how is Foxtel positioning itself as part of the solution?
Scott: We know operators need technology that works, is efficient and creates revenue. There is a strong focus internally to create more revenue streams with Business iQ. With major partnerships coming soon, we will deliver more exciting value-adds resulting in significant operational savings. The premium “greater than home experience” will always be the focus while helping operators market smarter, upsell effectively and run leaner. In this environment, that combination is exactly what the industry needs.
