Comments on: The inhospitality business http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/ Same old blog, brand new place Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:30:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Shawn Powers http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/comment-page-1/#comment-75684 Shawn Powers Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:50:05 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/#comment-75684 I was in the same hotel, and it didn't seem terribly high-end. I'm sure the place felt as though they were high end, but in all honesty, charging a lot of money and thinking highly of one's self isn't nearly as endearing as a company would hope. Of course, most of the "high end" hotels I stay in (usually due to location, not snooty preference) all suck rather profusely. Give me a Best Western or a Days Inn any day. I'd have given up my bidet in a heartbeat for free wifi. I was in the same hotel, and it didn’t seem terribly high-end. I’m sure the place felt as though they were high end, but in all honesty, charging a lot of money and thinking highly of one’s self isn’t nearly as endearing as a company would hope. Of course, most of the “high end” hotels I stay in (usually due to location, not snooty preference) all suck rather profusely. Give me a Best Western or a Days Inn any day.

I’d have given up my bidet in a heartbeat for free wifi.

]]> By: OMB http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/comment-page-1/#comment-75423 OMB Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:56:28 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/#comment-75423 I stay in hotels about eight to ten months per year. As a consequence, I refuse to stay in a place that does not offer free Internet. I'll tolerate a room without a refrigerator and microwave (for a while), but if the net isn't free, I have a one night maximum. Of course, I'm typically in one area for three to four months. I'm also using employer reimbursement, so the rate cap keeps me out of the high-end piece-rate places you seem to frequent. I stay in hotels about eight to ten months per year. As a consequence, I refuse to stay in a place that does not offer free Internet. I’ll tolerate a room without a refrigerator and microwave (for a while), but if the net isn’t free, I have a one night maximum.

Of course, I’m typically in one area for three to four months. I’m also using employer reimbursement, so the rate cap keeps me out of the high-end piece-rate places you seem to frequent.

]]> By: MN http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/comment-page-1/#comment-75239 MN Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:06:08 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/#comment-75239 We stayed at a Marriott to be near our daughter in Fort Worth. NOt only did we get charged for internet, but were charged extra for the concierge lounge that was closed. I did get that charge deleted. When we returned, we stayed at a Comfort suites, just as nice, free internet. We stayed at a Marriott to be near our daughter in Fort Worth. NOt only did we get charged for internet, but were charged extra for the concierge lounge that was closed. I did get that charge deleted.
When we returned, we stayed at a Comfort suites, just as nice, free internet.

]]> By: Jacob Burke http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/comment-page-1/#comment-75071 Jacob Burke Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:53:40 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/#comment-75071 I work for a resort in upstate NY. We are not part of a chain, just a family owned business. One of the first questions asked is if there is internet access and how much does it cost? We offer all of our guests free high-speed access in their rooms and have wifi available in our lobby, restaurant and conference room. I think the larger chains just don't understand that people still want or need to be connected while they are on the road. As for the whole IE-only issue? Well, the service provider that the hotel is using needs to catch up to the 21st century and realize that IE use is declining and isn't even an option anymore on Mac computers. Sometimes I think people just don't get it. Cheers, Jake I work for a resort in upstate NY. We are not part of a chain, just a family owned business. One of the first questions asked is if there is internet access and how much does it cost? We offer all of our guests free high-speed access in their rooms and have wifi available in our lobby, restaurant and conference room. I think the larger chains just don’t understand that people still want or need to be connected while they are on the road. As for the whole IE-only issue? Well, the service provider that the hotel is using needs to catch up to the 21st century and realize that IE use is declining and isn’t even an option anymore on Mac computers. Sometimes I think people just don’t get it.

Cheers, Jake

]]> By: Pauly http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/comment-page-1/#comment-74796 Pauly Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:15:53 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/#comment-74796 Flip makes a good point about hotels not seeing internet connectivity as a utility, but rather as a profit center (and low-end hotels raison d'etre doesn't avail them of many add-on profit centers which explains that irony). But I want to take Flip's "not a utility" observation further into what for your regular readers Doc is well-tilled ground: that is, the telcos and cablecos *also* don't see internet connectivity as a utility or infrastructure but rather as a profit center. And where that seems to be taking us is frighteningly analogous to your "IE only" support model. Flip makes a good point about hotels not seeing internet connectivity as a utility, but rather as a profit center (and low-end hotels raison d’etre doesn’t avail them of many add-on profit centers which explains that irony). But I want to take Flip’s “not a utility” observation further into what for your regular readers Doc is well-tilled ground: that is, the telcos and cablecos *also* don’t see internet connectivity as a utility or infrastructure but rather as a profit center. And where that seems to be taking us is frighteningly analogous to your “IE only” support model.

]]> By: Bryan Alexander http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/comment-page-1/#comment-74734 Bryan Alexander Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:09:22 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/#comment-74734 I've been observing this for about the past six years. My rule of thumb: the pricier the hotel, the more likely internet is to cost (and to not be very good). The less expensive, the more likely broadband is to be free. Am typing this from a rural Best Western, with free WiFi - I’ve been observing this for about the past six years. My rule of thumb: the pricier the hotel, the more likely internet is to cost (and to not be very good). The less expensive, the more likely broadband is to be free.

Am typing this from a rural Best Western, with free WiFi -

]]> By: Chip http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/comment-page-1/#comment-74698 Chip Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:18:08 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/#comment-74698 Doc Not nearly the traveler that you are, but an observation Lower rate hotels maybe more used by younger, tech savvy, clients. Higher rate, older, less techie clients. Sometimes even the "I don't use the internet, that's for staff" types. I've stayed at enough of each. Low end you have a coffee maker in the room, higher end - you pay for room service (or go to lobby) I'm on your side on this, just know that part of it is the client demand side, client expectation issues. Doc
Not nearly the traveler that you are, but an observation

Lower rate hotels maybe more used by younger, tech savvy, clients.
Higher rate, older, less techie clients.
Sometimes even the “I don’t use the internet, that’s for staff” types.

I’ve stayed at enough of each.
Low end you have a coffee maker in the room, higher end – you pay for room service (or go to lobby)

I’m on your side on this, just know that part of it is the client demand side, client expectation issues.

]]> By: Russell Nelson http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/comment-page-1/#comment-74678 Russell Nelson Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:08:54 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/#comment-74678 In particular, the hotels in Mumbai don't "get it". They charge $10 (500 INR) for a 24 hour login. In particular, the hotels in Mumbai don’t “get it”. They charge $10 (500 INR) for a 24 hour login.

]]> By: David Berlind http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/comment-page-1/#comment-74644 David Berlind Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:51:27 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/#comment-74644 I was completely blown away by The Holiday Inn by the the SFO Airport (north end). The whole place is blanketed with free WiFi and when I checked in there (I sometimes move camp to a hotel by the airport if I have an early flight the next day), they handed me a basket full of snacks and toiletries to take to my room at no charge. The room wasn't super luxurious but it offered a solid nights sleep at a cut-throat rate compared to the other places (Westin, Hilton, etc.). I was completely blown away by The Holiday Inn by the the SFO Airport (north end). The whole place is blanketed with free WiFi and when I checked in there (I sometimes move camp to a hotel by the airport if I have an early flight the next day), they handed me a basket full of snacks and toiletries to take to my room at no charge. The room wasn’t super luxurious but it offered a solid nights sleep at a cut-throat rate compared to the other places (Westin, Hilton, etc.).

]]> By: Bob Boynton http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/comment-page-1/#comment-74632 Bob Boynton Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:02:05 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/08/04/the-inhospitality-business/#comment-74632 You are lucky with a fee of only $9.95. I usually have to pay $15.00. You are lucky with a fee of only $9.95. I usually have to pay $15.00.

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