Monday, February 13, 2006

On Sunday night in Calgary, I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, a budget hotel if ever there was one. High-speed Internet access was free. Tonight I checked into the Coast Hotel in Edmonton. It’s a classier place. I got into my room. No high speed. So I called the front desk. High speed connections are available only in higher-priced rooms. I was moved to a room that cost CDN $15 more per night. I also got a refrigetator. (Big wow.)

This is a trend I’ve noticed in general. The classier the hotel, the more likely it is that they’ll charge for high speed access. Sooner or later the hospitality industry will wake up and realize business travelers need and expect pervasive high speed wireless access throughout the hotel. We’ll start giving our business to those that provide it, leaving those who don’t with more and more empty rooms. Take heed; I’m not kidding.

Posted by Shel in • Hotels
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