Hotel Extras - Are they worth the money?
According to a recent analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the average price of a hotel room in the US has increased by nearly $10 in the last two years to an expected $95.31 in 2006 from $86.21 in 2004.
Following their analysis, PricewaterhouseCoopers concluded that as hotel rates increase, so do their expectations leading to an increasing rate of features becoming de rigour in hotel rooms above a certain price. These include:
• Wireless high speed internet access at no charge
• Flat screen televisions
• Choice of traditional bedding or duvets
• Top sheets
• Bottled water at ‘reasonable’ prices
• 24-hour business center services
• Triple draping window treatments
• Kiosks and in-room check out options
• Enhanced quality bath amenities such as status branded items and larger soap bars
• Cordless telephones
• More premium branding of food, beverage and other consumables • Quality sound system (radio and CD player)
• Delivery of faxes to guest rooms
• Easy-to-use clock radios
• In-room exercise equipment (treadmill, exercise bike, stair climbers)
• Solutions to the problem of food and beverage items being kept too warm in the cabinet next to the refrigerator (due to the heat from the refrigerator unit)
• Enhanced lighting (greater lumens and make-up lights) in bathrooms
• Less ‘clutter’ of advertising and other materials
• More intuitive controls for lights, in-room entertainment
• Areas for guests to cluster and meet
The question is, do we want to pay more for “Triple draping window treatments ” and for our faxes to be delivered to our door. Who even still uses fax?
