It’s hard to imagine anyone choosing a hotel for a work trip that didn’t offer some form of internet access. But are we willing to pay extra for the privilege? One recent study suggests the answer is ‘yes’.
Picture by Serena Sun
A survey of 10,000 regional travellers across seven Asia-Pacific countries by hotel chain Accor found that Australian travellers had the highest average allowance for hotel spending, with a typical figure of $US158 a night. Australians were also the least likely to be willing to spend extra on a hotel which had green credentials, with just 38 per cent saying they would choose that option.
One area that Australians were apparently willing to spend money was on internet access. Free Wi-Fi is an increasingly common (and welcome) option, but some business travellers appear willing to pay more to ensure they get a reasonable service, as the press release announcing the survey noted:
Internet access was high on the list of ‘preferred’ services for the overwhelming majority of respondents, but increasingly corporate travelers are seeking ‘quality’ download speeds rather than just free (slower) internet. They want to be able to work fast and efficiently, and many will pay a “reasonable” amount for the service.
Another area Australians stuck out was in whether they worked in their rooms during a work-related stay. That figure was 72 per cent for Australians but rose to 82 per cent for Chinese and Singaporean travellers, a discrepancy Accor suggests might reflect the fact that Australians often travel overseas for conventions rather than on sales-related tasks.
Given my well-known status as a frugal traveller (that is, I’m cheap), I can’t actually recall the last time I paid as much as $US158 for a hotel room or paid for Internet access in an Australian hotel. Would you pay extra to make sure the connection was higher quality? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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