Source: Hospitality Upgrade, 6/1/2007
Author: David Shanks
http://www.hospitalityupgrade.com/_magazine/magazine_Detail.asp?ID=112
The author of this article reminds us that the use of Internet is getting increased and the need of the bandwidth is also increased. He gave us an example of an article which is in TechNews World November 2, 2006, “Jupiter Research asked business travelers which items would most likely motivate their hotel purchase decisions…[free] Internet access beat out every else-including free breakfast, room upgrade and personalized rooms.” It is true. The guests expect to use Internet where they are staying so hotels have to provide that service. However the primary internet service equipment can not satisfy the guests sometimes. If a guest uses many kbps in a limited pipe with any reasons, the other guests have to share the left pipe. A heavy traffic in cyberspace may be able to occur a guest complain simply, or make no returning guests in real. So the author suggested two ways of managing bandwidth. The first way is the adding more bandwidth.
Adding more bandwidth is seemed to be very simple and the easiest way to solve the problem. But if hotels have to spend $6000 annually for additional internet service equipment, they might think again. There is a new technology which the author introduced that is much less expensive than the fastest transmission but is less reliable performance than primary equipment. However this technology enables to be harmonized with any of various circuits into a existing network environment. It can satisfy the guests with a little added expense and the hotel has insurance and keeps all data without the guest’s complains.
The second way is the controlling bandwidth. Because of the limited budget cannot allow to the hotel expand the bandwidth to the guest network, the hotel should manage or control the bandwidth. The way to control the bandwidth is by controlling the use’s IP address, MAC address or application/port.
This article concluded by encouraging the hotel adopts a new technology for satisfying the guest demands. Have a firm strategy of broadband service and take advantage of the new technologies.
Roughly I agree with the author. The use of internet by guests is increasing day by day especially it is essential for business travelers. People used to access internet fast and they expect to use same speed of internet when they are staying in the hotel. So the hotel should provide fast internet access even adding more bandwidth but it should be planed carefully under the firm strategy.
Almost end of the article the author said that the additional broadband service could make financial benefit which is to charge by levels of internet speed. Up to 254 kbps is free to guests and then offering fee-based speeds of 512 kbps, 1Mbps, and etc. I think it is not a good idea. Normal tourist guests could be satisfied with general speed. They do not need to download a big size of file or share the file in the hotel. People who need fast internet access are the business travelers. They are pressed for time and need to access internet regularly or all the time for their business. In the meeting or convention with buyers or investors, or for the important video conference, business people need high speed internet. If the hotel charges for fee-based speeds, business people will be a big part of user. The hotel needs to remember that business people can be regular guests and their consumption can not be compared with travelers. Business travelers spend more money than travelers and use many facilities in the hotel; it could be a good chance to advertise and give a moment of truth of the hotel.
