By Michael B. Baker
Free breakfast has become more prevalent at U.S. hotels during the past two years, while free Internet has become less so, according to a survey conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and STR.
Based on responses from more than 12,000 U.S. hotels, the biennial survey conducted between March and June found 23% of properties charge for in-room Internet service, up 8 percentage points from a low in 2008.
The charges remain clearly divided by tier: 84% of luxury properties and 76% of upper-upscale properties charge for in-room Internet, while 18% of upscale and 26% of upper-midscale properties charge for the service. No midscale properties in the survey charged for Internet service.
Charges for exercise facilities also have become more common, with 25% of hotels levying them, up from 21% in 2010.
On the other hand, following a "massive spike" in recent years, 79% of U.S. hotels now offer free breakfast, according to the survey.
The jump may be partly due to a different mix of hotels in this year's survey than in previous years. Nearly all mid-tier hotels — 95% of upper-midscale and 97% of midscale — offer free breakfast, as do about half of U.S. upscale hotels.
Some new technology developments thus far have had little penetration into U.S. hotels, according to the survey.
For example, 3% allow check-in via mobile devices and 1% allow guests to use mobile devices as room keys.
Lobby check-in kiosks also are vanishing, with 7% of hotels using them compared with 28% of hotels in 2008.
Source: The Beat
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