What is a Hotel’s Most Important Amenity?

Hotels are in a constant battle to stand out from the competition.

In a world where sites like  Priceline, Expedia and Kayak have become the most popular ways to book, guests tend to view price as the only difference between hotels. 

Some properties have tried to combat this trend using futuristic gimmicks  like adding Robot Butlers to their staff  or enabling guests to use their phones as room keys, but the best solution might look less like the year 2114 and more like 2014.

Give the people what they want.

According to a study cited by innovationexcellence.com  94%  of people  think WiFi is the most important amenity in hotels. Not free Coffee, not complimentary breakfast… but Internet access.

That statistic is hardly surprising given the fact that most people carry an internet connected smartphone with them 24/7, not to mention the 45% of  guests who bring at least 2 internet connected devices with them while traveling.  

What IS surprising is that while 87% of guests think Wifi should be free,  only 64% of hotels actually offer complimentary Wifi. 

Standing out doesn’t necessarily mean that hotels need to come up with some extravagant marketing strategy or creative gimmick. It might mean simply giving guests a better experience then everyone else when it comes to internet access.

Fortunately for guests some hoteliers are already taking steps to establish a competitive advantage based on Wifi.  28-Percent of hotel operators plan to upgrade and increase bandwidth to guest rooms in the next 6 months.

So before upgrading your property’s coffee selection or extending the hours of continental breakfast, think about investing in better Wifi. It could be simple solution to setting yourself apart that you’ve been looking for!