Future-Proof Your Guest Network With the Ultimate Connectivity Strategy
META: Win over the customers of the future and boost your hotel’s profits with unparalleled Wi-Fi connectivity.
Source - Alt: A close-up of an internet router on
As expected, the hospitality industry has experienced a huge post-COVID boom.
After consumers were told to stay in their homes with limited freedom for months, there’s now an obvious desire to get back out and see the world. With travel reaching and surpassing pre-pandemic levels, hospitality destinations are rubbing their hands with glee.
So, what’s the catch?
Unfortunately, in the post-pandemic world, it’s not enough for hotels to run things the same as they were before and hire a few new staff members to meet soaring demand. The digital presence of hotels was a key factor in ensuring they bounced back after COVID-19, but the innovation mustn’t stop there.
Hotels must take active measures to future-proof their Wi-Fi networks and ensure connectivity for their next generation of guests.
Here’s why maximizing connectivity is important and how hotels can prioritize creating networks worthy of the future without compromising profits.
Let’s get into it.
Why is Connectivity Important?
Alt: A close-up of a network server in a hotel
A guest arrives at the hotel they’re staying in for a work conference. They pull up their laptop to catch up on a few work emails before tomorrow’s event, only to find the connection is incredibly poor. Emails won’t load, while the prospect of a video call with their boss or a post-work Netflix stream is off the table.
They march down to the reception area and demand an upgrade to the Wi-Fi or a full refund. Hotels face this if their connections don’t match the expectations of the modern traveler.
A whopping 98% of travelers now expect high-speed Wi-Fi, and they’re not wrong to want their needs met. In an increasingly digital world, those staying at hotels expect to be able to stream their favorite content, video call their family members, and have a robust enough connection to work from the comfort of their hotel rooms.
Even just a couple of reviews mentioning bad connectivity can make travelers think twice about booking a room in your hotel, especially if they belong to the growing population of digital nomads. Over time, poor reviews can lead to your profits taking a serious hit since 84% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
In fact, the effectiveness of your Wi-Fi is so important that it’s even a category for ratings on many popular hotel sites such as Booking.com. With more and more people working remotely, ensuring your guests’ connection doesn’t drop is paramount.
The Benefits of Improving Your Connectivity
In case you need more convincing on boosting your Wi-Fi networks, here are just some of the key advantages.
Better reviews: If you read a set of reviews for a hotel, the issue of Wi-Fi will come up at least once - especially if it’s poor! Better connectivity means better reviews, boosting your hotel’s reputation.
Boost profits: The better your reputation, the more likely travelers are to book a room at your place. If you cultivate a reputation for excellence, you can boost profits. You’ll even have an excuse to raise prices in return for top-notch connectivity.
Attract a diversity of guests: While many guests stay in hotels for a vacation, an increasing number of travelers are either digital nomads, remote workers, or visiting other countries/states for corporate events. By boasting top-notch Wi-Fi, you can attract a diversity of visitors.
Compete effectively: When your competitors invest in excellent digital infrastructure, failing to do so yourself will mean leaving you behind. You can only compete effectively when your facilities are up to scratch and exceed those of other hotels in the area.
Future-Proofing Your Hotel With Top-Quality Networks
Many companies struggling with sub-par digital infrastructure dodged a bullet during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel was reduced.
Unfortunately, with travel now on the up and a higher expectation of connectivity from travelers, the chickens are now coming home to roost. The demand for travel is only going to increase, with 2024 looking to be a record-breaking year for air travel.
Existing networks that once may have been successful are set to weaken due to the increase in modern demands and utilization. Networks are no longer used simply to send emails or write Google docs - users now expect uninterrupted streaming and video calls, too.
As tempting as it is to put off improving your systems during a period of low cash flow in a challenging economy, any short-term problems will only worsen as time goes on. If you find yourself in peak travel season with networks that still aren’t up to scratch, you risk ruining your reputation and seeing profits plummet.
How to Improve Your Connectivity
Luckily, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are ways to improve your network that will reap rewards in the form of a wider customer base and an impressive financial return on investment.
In order to avoid being blindsided when hit with increasing demand in 2024, the time is now to upgrade your networks and plan strategically to future-proof them. During the slower travel and conference periods, hotels and hospitality properties can make the necessary upgrades to property networks in time for 2024’s busy period.
In Q1 of next year, necessary equipment and hardware may be hard to find, and installers may be over-stretched with demand, meaning you could miss out on the upgrade your network system sorely needs.
Plan ahead and future-proof your business, and you’ll enter 2024’s peak season fully prepared.
Here at Single Digits, we’ll replace your outdated guest Wi-Fi network so you can give your guests the connection they expect - no compromises.
It’s no longer enough to provide guests with a basic connection that allows them to load emails - true connectivity provides voice, video, and data, going beyond the bedrooms to the bars, gym, pools, and conference room. To truly make your space a home away from home, go above and beyond with your Wi-Fi connectivity.
Click here to schedule a consultation and find out how Single Digits can future-proof your hospitality venue and see your profits soar.