United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Why hotels are unlikely to charge for growing Wi-Fi option
The leading candidate for a future free hotel service: Wi-Fi.
Surveys show it’s already the most desired amenity for guests.
Its future may be to become as standard as telephones and color TVs.
But will hotels add it to the growing number of service fees? Probably not.
“And now that even McDonald’s offers free WiFi it’s no wonder hotel guests feel it should be free,” writes hospitality consultant Madigan Pratt in 4Hotelier, adding that it is likely hotels will not dare to charge a fee for a service consumers expect to get for free, even though some hotels still add the service to its list of fees.
That may change, however, as hotel executives realize they will have to offer free Wi-Fi or risk image damages.
“All you have to do is look though negative comments on TripAdvisor,” Pratt writes.
For example:
• "Another disappointment was that WiFi was an additional charge. For this class of hotel, one would expect it to be included.”
• "I would probably prefer a Holiday Inn or equivalent where you can get free wifi, free parking, nice pool, free breakfast, and convenience for $100 OR LESS A NIGHT.”
• "WiFi was expensive and we had to pay for the parking as well. Why don’t they include them in the room price?”
• "All the extras in the hotel are very pricy and WiFi is an extra USD 15 per day.”
• "Also like many have said on here, it’s crazy to charge $15 for WiFi when the room and everything else inside the hotel costs so much.”
By David Wilkening
David
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: Don Welsh on Community Values and Global Collaboration
Jane Cunningham: Enhancing European Engagement in Tourism
Kristin Dunne: Navigating Destination Strategy
Revolutionizing Mobile Connectivity: Boris Bijlstra on HUBBY eSIM
Capturing Glasgow’s Vibrancy: An Interview with Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life
Lebua Hotel & Resorts: Rajan Khurana on Hospitality and Bangkok’s Charms
Sustainable Tourism and Growth: Insights from Chiravadee Khunsub from Tourism Authority of Thailand
Revolutionizing Travel: SmartSIM USA’s Dale Takio Unveils the Power of E Sims
TravelMole Interview with Hishan Singhawansa, Deputy CEO of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
Unveiling the Essence of Magari Tours: A Dive into Authentic Italian Experiences
EU airports bring back 100ml liquid rule
CLIA: Anti-cruise demos could cause itinerary changes in Europe
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Woman dies after getting ‘entangled’ in baggage carousel