RESULTS FROM MARKET RESEARCH agency BDRC Continental's annual British Hotel Guest Survey shows a surge in the proportion of business travellers using wifi , but increased resistance to paying for the privilege.
"Every year we have seen usage of wifi increase among both business and leisure travellers," explains Tim Sander, research director at BDRC Continental, "but in the last 12 months the proportion of business travellers has jumped from 56 per cent to 73 per cent. What was interesting this year is that business travellers are starting to resist what they clearly consider to be excessive charges."
Sander's assertion is based on analysis of findings on the pricing point at which people would begin to 'log off'. Opinions hinged on £5, the price roughly 40 per cent said they probably or definitely would be prepared to pay, and 39 per cent said they probably or definitely would not. When that price was increased to £15, however, 79 per cent would be unwilling to pay, with just 9 per cent still saying that they would.