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Free Wi-Fi in All Accor Hotels in the UK

Accor has brought some very good news to travellers. The French hotelier that is known as the owner of such popular brands as Ibis, Novotel, Sofitel, and Mercure has finally answered the growing demand from the side of customers. From now the company offers free Wi-Fi in all Accor hotels in the UK. These are 59 Ibis hotels, 31 Novotel, and 76 Mercure hotels. Wi-Fi can be accessed in all public areas and in all guestrooms.

Despite the fact that free Wi-Fi is a highly sought after feature and it’s available in many pubs and popular food chains such as McDonalds or Starbucks, hotels industry in the UK doesn’t seem to hurry up and offer the service to its customers. Last year Telegraph Travel carried out a survey which brought quite unusual results. Two thirds of hotels in the world still make guests pay for Internet, charging an incredible amount of £8.50 per hour. The Internet access rates of Accor Group are more “customer oriented” with an average rate being £3.85 (depending on the property). Compare this to major brands – Hilton charges £15 for one day of Internet access, Crowne Plaza charges a fee of £10 for the same service, while Holiday Inn and Jurys Inn charge £13 and £8 respectively.

Free Wi-Fi is named as one of the main decision making factors while selecting a hotel, so it is really hard to overestimate the importance of the service. Among almost 9 thousand people surveyed by Telegraph Travel, only 2% called Wi-Fi charges “fair”, and only 11% of respondents said they were willing to pay for Internet access.

Free Wi-Fi in the UK is only a beginning as Accor plans removing paid Wi-Fi in its 500 hotels in Asia Pacific.

19.08.2013

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