The French firm, which owns the Ibis, Sofitel, Mercure and Novotel chains, appears to have finally relented to the growing demand from consumers. Guests at 59 Ibis hotels, 76 Mercure hotels and 31 Novotel hotels will be able to connect online in all public areas and bedrooms.
Despite the growing availability of free Wi-Fi at cafes, pubs and even branches of Starbucks and McDonald’s, the hotel industry has appeared more reluctant to offer it to guests.
A study carried out last year by Telegraph Travel revealed that around two thirds of hotels around the world still charge guests for using Wi-Fi, with rates as high as £8.50 an hour. The Accor group was found to charge guests £3.85 per hour at its various UK properties.
More recently, research carried out by Gogobot, a travel review website, found that the Hilton chain enforces an average charge of £15 for a single day’s access, Holiday Inn charges guests £13 per day, Crowne Plaza charges a £10 fee, and Jurys Inn charges guests £8 per day.
Thomas Dubaere, managing director of Accor UK & Ireland said: “Free wi-fi has become the norm at many coffee houses or bars.
“We recognise that guests expect to have free Wi-Fi wherever they are in the hotel and for it to be a quick, high quality connection.”
Recent research has emphasised the importance of free Wi-Fi for holidaymakers when selecting a hotel. A survey of Telegraph Travel readers revealed that less than two per cent believed Wi-Fi charges were fair, and a poll of 8,600 people by Hotels.com suggested that only 11 per cent of hotel guests are prepared to pay for the service.
Accor revealed plans to scrap Wi-Fi charges at 500 of its Asia-Pacific hotels last year.
Meanwhile, research carried out by the website Airport Parking and Hotels found that only four of Britain’s 25 biggest airports offer free unlimited Wi-Fi access. The most expensive hourly charges are found at Leeds Bradford, Luton and Cardiff. All three airports charge travelers £5 an hour, while visitors to Durham Tees Valley, Sheffield, Doncaster and Liverpool John Lennon are charged £4.50 an hour.
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