Poor connectivity pains travellers

Poor internet connectivity is the biggest headache facing travellers today, according to a new global survey.

The poll of 10,000 travellers by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) revealed that being unable to connect to the internet was identified by 40% of business travellers as the main problem they face while staying at hotels, ahead of difficult transport links (26%) and a noisy location (24%).

Logging onto the internet was identified as the first thing 31% of people do when they arrive in their hotel room, ahead of exploring their room (25%), taking a shower (14%) or unpacking (13%). And for many travellers, keeping in touch with family is the most important reason for wanting to connect.

The survey revealed that nearly two thirds (64%) of travellers would prefer to communicate with people back home over the internet rather than on the phone, and 53% of parents said the ability to connect with family was the best way to relax at the end of a working day.

“Just hearing a voice on a telephone is no longer sufficient for the 21st century traveller, we need the comfort of being able to see loved ones too,” said Jenni Trent, a relationship expert cited by IHG.

“We want to see our children’s smiles when we’re reading them their bedtime story over Skype, be able to look our partner in the eye when we tell them how much we miss them, as well as keep up with all our social media obligations and emails,” she added.

Meanwhile, 61% of people surveyed said that internet was the most important additional facility in their hotel room, ahead of TV (17%), a bath (5%), fridge (3%) and minibar (1%). Eighty-nine percent of travellers also expressed a desire for free internet.

Currently IHG only offers free internet to members of its loyalty scheme – a system used by several other hotel companies, including Swissotel, to boost membership. Other companies such as Best Western, Accor and Shangri-La provide complimentary internet to all guests.