Free Wi-fi top priority for Indian travellers: Survey

Mumbai, May 10: Free wi-fi has become a must for travellers, including Indians, who consider this amenity as a standard service across all hotels, says a survey.

"Free Wi-Fi is a must for both business and leisure travellers, including Indians, as almost 53 per cent of guests wish this amenity as a standard service across all hotels," according to the 'Top Hotel Amenity' survey by Hotels.com, an online accommodation booking website.

The survey is based on the responses of over 4,700 respondents globally. Further, the survey revealed that Indians have become more tech savvy with a large percentage of the population using smartphones and rely on the free hotel Wi-Fi.

Deprived of free public wi-fi hotspots compared to other countries, Indian business travellers appear to be more reliant on the free hotel Wi-Fi as it stood first on their priority list with 33 per cent, it added.

For leisure travellers, free breakfast and free Wi-Fi top the amenities list (33 per cent), the survey said. About 25 per cent Indian travellers also feel fitness centres as the number one non-tech amenity, which should be available at all hotels.

Whereas a staggering 57 per cent travellers are willing to pay more to avail this facility, it said. Mini bar (25 per cent), DVD player (25 per cent), trouser press (25 per cent) and bathroom phones (12 per cent) no longer appealing to the Indian travellers as they are never used, it said.

About 71 per cent Indian travellers feel that hotels should do away with bath robes and use of pool, bathtub to lower the hotel rates.

Noise from other guests, unpleasant carpet odours and running out of hot water (43 per cent) annoys Indians the most during hotel stays, it said.

Meanwhile, the survey also revealed that pilfering items from hotels is a global travel custom, in which India stood 20th in global ranking with (57 per cent) bragging about not taking anything from hotel rooms while (29 per cent) have admitted to pocketing stationary.

Meanwhile, Argentina (27 per cent), Singapore (29 per cent) and Spain (30 per cent) lead the sticky fingers list. In contrast, the survey found that (69 per cent) of Colombians and (67 per cent) of Norwegians indicated they have never stolen from a hotel.

PTI