Another important consideration is the convenience factor, particularly for hotels focusing upon business guests. Here, competitive options are becoming crucial, according to analysts. Buyers will ask whether phones have a competitive range of features such as jacks for laptop computers, two-line telephones or call waiting capabilities, all likely to be deciding points in the future when a customer makes the choice of hostelry. High-speed guest room Internet access is today's hot technology and hotels are constantly being bombarded by sales pitches from an array of suppliers. Internet access from the guest room is becoming a competitive necessity, say industry consultants, who also counsel hotels on choosing the right Internet partner.
Obvious questions relate to the partner's background in the industry.
But Internet providers will have to consider the extent of re-wiring the hotel will need to undertake for high speed access, who actually manages the deployment of Internet facilities and whether the hotel is able to purchase the system outright or lease it. Perhaps more crucially, the hotel will have to ask itself whether there is a revenue-sharing plan available and whether Internet access is integrated into the hotel's management system for the purposes of charging the guest. Such arcane questions may also be asked where devices for the deaf are concerned. Uneven service provisions can sometimes prove to be worse than no provision at all. All rights reserved.