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Staying at a luxury hotel? Don’t expect free Wi-Fi
The more you pay for your room, the less likely you are to get free Wi-Fi.
That was the surprising finding from a recent survey of 10,000 hotels conducted by Smith Travel Research for the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Those are some of the findings from a recent survey of 10,000 hotels conducted by Smith Travel Research for the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
At the same time, wireless Internet access is becoming common. It is offered by 91% of hotels, up 35% from four years ago, according to the survey.
Only 15% of hotels charge for Internet access, down from 18% in 2006. But charges for Internet access were most common at more expensive properties, with three-fourths of luxury hotels and 91% of “upper upscale” hotels charging guests to access the Internet from their rooms.
Other findings:
o Fewer hotels are offering free breakfasts.
o More hotels are charging for late cancellations.
o Nearly three-fourths of the hotels in the survey offer a computer in the lobby for guest usage, though economy hotels are least likely to offer this service.
o Forty-seven percent have indoor swimming pools, and 58% have outdoor swimming pools.
o Forty-three percent said they have flat-screen TVs in guest rooms, and 57% said they upgraded bedding packages in the past year. Eighty-two percent offer a refrigerator in rooms, up from 68%in 2006.
o The number of hotels offering vegetarian menus is also on the upswing.
o More hotels are offering allergy-free rooms.
o Nearly a fourth of hotels participating in the survey said they offer “allergy-free rooms,” and about two-thirds said they use energy-efficient lighting. Nearly 40% said all of their rooms are nonsmoking.
o Free newspaper delivery to guest rooms dropped to 70% from 83% in 2006.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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