Upscale hotels offer guests cheaper Wi-Fi rates

By Barbara De Lollis
September 17, 2010

New York, NY — Given the growing backlash against paying $10 to $17 a day for guest-room Wi-Fi at upscale hotels, it's worth noting that a number of full-service hotels are starting to offer guests two rates for their daily Internet access. The cheaper rate lets you check your email, while the pricier one lets you do things like watch movies.

I discovered two different Wi-Fi rates on Sunday, when I settled into my room at the new InterContinental New York Times Square.

When I logged on the InterContinental's system, I was asked to choose between a $10-a-day option for low bandwidth (good for checking emails and reading online articles) and a $15-a-day option (good for VPN access, sharing PowerPoint presentations and watching movies).

I selected the $15 plan not so I could watch a movie (who has time for that in Manhattan during Fashion Week?), but to avoid potentially getting stuck on deadline with slow Internet. I figured, why risk it?

Also, $15 a day was less than what I've previously paid at other hotels - such as the $17 I once paid at the W Times Square - so I didn't feel too ripped off.

Now, I realize how much we all hate paying for Wi-Fi at full-service hotels. But if you can't avoid the charge either by touting elite-customer status that wins you free Wi-Fi or a perk-rich corporate rate, then it's nice to be able to pay less.

When I sent out a note about my find on Twitter, several Twitter followers expressed interest in the offering, while others told me they've been offered options at other hotels - including a full-service Hilton and a full-service Marriott.

So, given the interest level, I checked with InterContinental Hotels to see how widespread it is with this chain - the InterContinental Hotels Group's fanciest. Turns out that InterContinental Mark Hopkins in San Francisco and the InterContinental Chicago are also experimenting with the pay-by-bandwidth plan.

Since the InterCon Times Square opened barely two months ago, it was too early for seasoned general manager Drew Schlesinger to talk in detail about his guests' Wi-Fi purchase patterns. But he did say that people do like having a choice.

"Not everyone needs (high-bandwidth Internet) and I'd rather offer a lower price for day-to-day use," Schlesinger told me over coffee.

Budget Travel inc Hotels News Index
To continue shopping click here

Upscale hotels offer guests cheaper Wi-Fi rates

Ask Budget Travel inc about InterContinental Hotels