Features > General > Why are hotels still charging for internet access
Why are hotels still charging for wi-fi access? In this day and age of internet becoming a tv alternative, access should just be just as available as color television in your room.
Reception is poor in most hotel buildings and some even run jamming equipment on cell phones and electronic equipment. So even if you have cell data service, you may not be able to use it in your hotel room. And you won't know if it works until you've checked in.
The other gripe is that many hotels will advertise internet access but not say if it's for a fee or how much that fee may cost. You see internet access as an amenity, listed the same as pool, cofee, etc. So you book it, check in and then find a fee card in the room.
We recently had a case where a chain advertises free high-speed internet access with their brand name in magazine, tv and web ads. So we made this change on the site accordingly. Then we are contacted by an individual location saying that they charge $10 per 24 hour period. What is a customer to do when the chains can't be straight with themselves?
I would like to say that you should boycott these hotels but it is difficult if you are already there or have a meeting at that hotel. Hotels around conventions are often the worst offenders. They have business travelers where they want them and charge accordingly. What choice do you have at that point?
Complain and complain loudly. Let them know on comment cards and at the front desk that you won't be back. That no one in your business will be back. That you will mention this on the convention survey so the whole event could possibly relocate to another hotel. Hotels are lowering rates to be competitive on internet websites like ours and then charging little fees for everything else, including things that used to be free.
Another aspect is that even if you know the cost of internet access, is it working when you are there? We hear many stories of the internet network being down or being upgraded in a hotel. You are out of luck without apologies. They may not accept the complaint as if you were saying there is no electricity. It may be critical for your visit but it's not an important utility to the hotels.
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