Wi-Fi as an Opportunity, Rather Than a Cost

In a recent article, My Love & Hate Relationship with Hotel Wi-Fi, author, Om Malik, shares similar laments as fellow business travelers – hotel Wi-Fi stinks (usually). Even paying for an upgrade doesn’t guarantee adequate bandwidth; as more people are streaming more data (music, video) and downloading and uploading more content (cloud storage, etc.) older hotel networks simply can’t keep up.

And who can blame them, really? Most hotels struggle to fund technology investments, specifically infrastructure to supply more bandwidth. We’ve talked a lot about tiered bandwidth plans as a way to recoup some of the costs, but the upgrade absolutely must be worth the cost.

Malik, a frequent business traveler says,“I almost always take the upgrade option, paying more for more bandwidth only to find that it still sucks. Unless these guys get their act together and build high-quality robust networks, they can’t really expect people to pay up.”

Hotels must recognize this as an opportunity – guests are telling them exactly what they want: more bandwidth. Yes, it’s easier said than done, but investing in bigger pipe and better network infrastructure now will ensure you win guest loyalty.

Does your hotel wrap up Internet fees in hotel room costs? Why or why not?