Wi-Fi a Necessity, Not a Perk

By Brad

Wi-Fi is everywhere nowadays, and as the New York Times notes, its ubiquitousness is making some pricing schemes seem outright arcane—specifically, those used by upscale hotels:

Free in-room Internet access ranked as the most desired guest-room amenity in a national survey of 800 affluent travelers conducted in August by Ypartnership, a travel marketing firm in Orlando, Fla. That was above premium bedding and flat-screen TVs. A January survey of 6,300 people across 10 countries by the research firm Synovate found that 47 percent of respondents said a hotel must cater to their technology needs before they book it, with wireless access a top priority.

“We are finding that it is now no longer an added feature to have wireless Internet in hotels, but rather it is expected,” Sheri Lambert, a Synovate senior vice president for travel and leisure research, said in a statement. “Travelers, whether for business or leisure, need to be connected.”

With some high-end hotels charging up to $17 for 24 hours of online usage, many travelers—especially in the current economic climate—are sacrificing luxury in favor of being able to be online.