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Worst WiFi Hotels 2008

A HotelChatter Exclusive

Yesterday we told you where you can get working WiFi in hotels for free so today we must tell you about the hotels where the WiFi is definitely not free, possibly not working and perhaps is not even WiFi.

Yes, it's time for the Worst WiFi Hotels of 2008. Much like our Best WiFi Hotels list, the Worst rounds up the usual suspects who charge you for internet access as well as calls out a few other hotel brands that manage to fly under our radar in other years.

These hotels also make this list for other reasons beyond billing. Inconsistent WiFi policies across different properties and brands is irksome, meaning you will get charged at one hotel in New York but not at the same brand in Miami. So is offering free WiFi in the lobbies but not in the rooms.

Yet what probably gets our goat the most is that these hotels are charging for WiFi purely for profit. We've even got a letter from a general manager of a Four Seasons hotel who tries to explain why the hotel must charge for internet. Essentially, the reasons why are all about profit except they are just hiding behind the pretense of customer service and network support.

Since we know that other hotels out there can provide complimentary WiFi, these hotels listed below really need to step it up.

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Tags: Hotel WiFi / Four Seasons Hotels / Worst WiFi Hotels 2008 / Annual WiFi Report / 2008 WiFi Report / Hotel WiFi Week 2008 / → All Tags

Why One Four Seasons Hotel Charges for Internet Access

Four Seasons Hotels once again tops our list of Worst WiFi Hotels 2008.

Considering that guests are paying top dollar for these luxury rooms (on average $400 a night), you would think free internet would be available. Think again.

Despite the fact that both budget hotels and numerous boutique/design hotel chains (some which command the same rates as a Four Seasons) offer free wireless internet, the Four Seasons brand is unwavering in their policy to nickel and dime guests for surfing the web.

Here a general manager at a Four Seasons hotel tries to explain why the charge is necessary.

There are several differences between Four Seasons and other local hotels who do not charge for internet service. Allow me to cite just a few.

· Four Seasons' hotel IT staffs or designated personnel are the first line of support to assist our guests.  These employees will call the appropriate internet service providers on behalf of our guests to resolve their issues.  During non-business hours, hotel IT staff can be paged to resolve emergency guest connection issues.  

· In hotels where free HSIA is offered, there is no one from the hotel to assist guests with their connection issues.  Guest are required to dial a 1-800 number to obtain support where, most often guests are likely to receive poor service from untrained operators.  It is "use at your own risk" because the service is free.

· In Four Seasons hotels, guests can request higher bandwidth or setting up a virtual private network for their colleagues who stay in the same hotel.  As well, Hotel IT staff will trouble-shoot guests' laptop PC configuration to resolve the connection issue.  In hotels who provide free HSIA, no personal services will be offered.

· Four Seasons has established company standard for dedicated multiple guest internet pipes in order to provide effective guest services.  We have adopted automatic fail-over multi-homing technology to ensure the ultimate up-time of the guest's internet connection, and we constantly audit and discuss the network management issues with all the service providers.

· In hotels that provide free HSIA, there are no dedicated guest internet pipes.  Sometimes, they are even mixed with the hotel administrative internet usages.  There is only a single network gateway to the service provider and no automatic fail-over to guarantee the network up-time.