AUSTIN, TX? In the hotel industry, executives always want to know what amenity will be next on the ?hot? list, and our guests will usually tell us. Ten years ago, for example, we heard the message loud and clear: on-site exercise facilities, spas and health clubs, please. So what will be the next big amenity? The answer is, ?in-room connectivity,? allowing road warriors to access the Internet for e-mail, web-based research and a host of other information technologies. This demand for connectivity is driven by the need to be as productive as possible when business takes any of us away from the office. Moreover, hotel meeting rooms with fast connectivity are required by corporations that want to make their presentations and product demonstrations effective and impressive. Hotels have provided connectivity along telephone lines for some time. Realistically speaking, though, it?s no longer reasonable to expect people to take a break, or even go to dinner, while they wait for files to download. With fast access, common at most offices, and increasingly available in homes via cable modems and other technologies, guests expect their information NOW. Fortunately, hotel managers and owners can now choose from several ?solutions? offering improved Internet connectivity. I was responsible for including connectivity as part of the Driskill?s recent multi-million renovations program, as well as installing a solution at the Mansion at Turtle Creek in Dallas, where I was managing director from 1992 to 1999. Both times, I found that there were a variety of options available, yet many cloud their marketing with hype and jargon. Cutting through the confusion is half the battle. The installation process can be easy and the outcome positive for both guests and staff. Affect On Bottom Line Until now, one of the barriers to rapid Internet deployment in many hotels has been the understandable reluctance of managers and other hotel executives to spend a large amount of money per room to upgrade wiring plants on an operation that also displaces room revenue during installation. This is no longer the case. While there are many different situations and a variety of wire types, solutions exist that do not depend on one wiring type. While Category 5 cabling will future-proof your property, it is important to look for a solution that will run over any type of wiring plant, including Category 3 or even unrated wire. Affect On Rooms Installing Internet access need not disrupt operations or displace guests? or even be part of a multi-million dollar renovation. In fact, it can end up increasing your bottom line, depending on how the revenue is shared after the installation is complete. By choosing a supplier that manages the entire process, these vendors can deliver a more cost-effective solution. The result: guests at the Driskill pay less than $10 for 24 hours of high-speed Ethernet connectivity. That connectivity reduces the modem traffic on the hotel PBX system and eliminates the hassle and slow performance of modem calls. While many hoteliers believe they provide fast Internet access via their dataports, an Ethernet connection delivers connectivity at speeds 50 times faster than a standard modem. Guests do not have to remember to bring a local access or 800 number, and Ethernet is more reliable than a modem connection. A Powerful Tool Having our own on-site network spells benefits for the staff as well. Clearly, the Internet is a powerful tool to manage and grow a business, including one in the hospitality industry. Your property?s new system should be a complete Internet solution for guest and meeting rooms, and for back office connectivity. In addition, having wired and wireless Internet access helps future-proof your property, and lets guests connect the way they want to connect. Staff members benefit as they can transmit data between hotels, or between hotels and corporate headquarters for such uses as central re
