Did you know that the American Hotel and Lodging Association found that the majority of hotels, motels and other lodging options offer WiFi, even FREE WiFi now? And the study showed that fewer hotels are charging for in-room Web services these days as well. Less than 11% said they still charge for Internet today. One of the newest big questions guests today often ask before booking their stay, is how fast a connection is for their free service. Connection options at many major lodging chains are greatly improving. Guests want WiFi to be free, fast, and simple. Free WiFi has basically become a necessity in this lodging industry. Having free WiFi needs to meet the expectations of the guests for work and for pleasure for business people and family alike.

Guests at many lodging sites get free WiFi on an unlimited number of devices in both guest rooms and in public spaces like the lobby. And they don’t have to be members of any hotel’s loyalty program. Offering free hotel WiFi doesn’t just help vacationers, it helps lodging owners just as much. They cannot stand out from their other competition and afford to not offer completely free WiFi to their guests. For some motels, hotels and resorts, if guests want faster WiFi, they’ll have to pay, unless they’re part of their loyalty programs. Business travelers especially want the ability to get online quickly and without paying of course. In a survey by Skift and American Express conducted last summer, most vacationers who replied said free WiFi was the No. 1 amenity they looked for when choosing a hotel while on the road for business or for family fun.

So be sure to ask reps online during booking or the front desk clerk by phone before you finalize your next lodging stay for business and family trips about their WiFi options.