Silicon.com’s Fair Hotel Wi-Fi Campaign and Petition

I’m not sure how I missed this when it was published on Silicon.com, but it is VERY relevant to business travelers (or travellers for those of you in the UK) around the world. We need access to Wi-Fi (or broadband at any rate) in our hotel rooms. That is a simple fact. I don’t know of many business travelers who can get away without AT LEAST checking and responding to email while on the road. Silicon.com has struck out to end the price gouging affiliated with hotel internet access, which can be ridiculously expensive. I think U.S. prices are bad ranging from $7.95 a night to $11.95 a night. Hotels in Europe are much worse, England being the MOST expensive.

The funny thing is, as we all know, mid-range hotels such as Holiday Inn Express and Hampton offer the service for free. But if you want nicer accommodations, they come with a higher price tag AND charge you for EVERYTHING – including internet service. Some places (like the Marriott at Bush Intercontinental Airport) even charge for service in the lobby or the business center. That is crap.

Silicon.com has an online petition for Fair Wi-Fi in hotels. The petition is targeting UK hotels only, but may set a precedent for hotels around the globe. Do the right thing and sign the petition today at survey.cnet.co.uk/wix/p1185566.aspx.

For more info. on Silicon’s campaign in general, check the article at www.silicon.com/research/specialreports/travel/0,3800011481,39165300,00.htm