Improvements to a hotel’s technology offerings are often more than welcomed by guests who consider new technology as a real benefit and absorb it quickly. Guests are even ready to pay more for technology.
Besides the need for business travellers to stay connected, there is also a growing demand from leisure travellers to have Internet access while travelling.
As highlighted by Sergio Laurant, a Hotel Business Center Profitability Consultant, in a recent Hospitality Trends article, there is an increasing demand from guests for hotel business centers. A study done by the Travel Industry Association and Synovate in 2006 revealed that less than 25% of US leisure travelers carry a laptop with them when vacationing. There are 2 main reasons for leaving their laptops at home: the first one is the very scrupulous airport controls, and the second one is the increase in laptop theft.
Hence, business centers are now becoming a standard amenity, and hotels often offer in-room Internet connections in order to make it easier for guests to stay in touch with home or work.