So this past weekend, I was in Hawaii for a Kung Fu competition. Although away from work, I still wanted to update my blog when I wasn’t competing. However, I failed to do so because I stayed in a hotel that only offered free interenet in their lobby. As a result, I had to try to catch someone else’s connection, but even that proved to be horribly slow.
I then came to a realization that a majority of the hotels I stayed at do not offer free internet. Wired or wireless, I believe it is essential for all hotels to offer free internet to their guest. A happier guest equals a long time customer. If I pay over $100 per night at a hotel, I expect to get free internet, but we all know how that goes.
Although I do not expect for every hotel to offer free internet, I do believe that the ones that do, will have the upper hand and gain more customers. For example, my previous trips to Hawaii, I stayed at the Wyland in Waikiki. They offered free wired internet and quick valet parking. This past trip I stayed at the Castle Ocean Resort in Waikiki. No free internet and valet was literally trash. You had to wait a good 15 minutes to get your car. Although the Ocean Resort was about $100 cheaper for the whole trip, I would have shelled out the extra $100 to stay at the Wyland where internet was free, the rooms were a lot nicer, and services were a lot faster and pleasant.
All in all, free internet equals an eye catcher for future guests.
Hip Technology 