UK-based holiday company, Thomson and First Choice, will offer free Wi-Fi in all concept hotels.
Starting May 1, Wi-Fi will be provided free of charge across 135 hotels in 42 destinations, with access available throughout the hotels, benefiting nearly one million holidaymakers. This includes Thomson Sensatori, Couples, Family Resorts, Scene and Gold hotels, as well as First Choice Holiday Village, SplashWorld, Club Magic Life and SuneoClub resorts.
The move comes after research involving Thomson and First Choice customers found that they valued free Wi-Fi over traditional hotel amenities like room service. Guests in family resorts rated Wi-Fi access to be almost as significant as having a quiet time and relaxing by the swimming pool.
The reesearch revealed that 60 percent of guests valued Wi-Fi and rated it as important to their overall holiday experience.
Product director, Mark Hall, said: ‘We know how highly people value Wi-Fi in hotels as a service and as such we will be offering free Wi-Fi throughout our exclusive hotel concepts at no extra cost to our guests.
‘Through research we’ve seen that Wi-Fi is an integral part of our customers’ holiday experience and that they want to access social media sites, keep in contact with loved ones at home and research the area they are staying in whilst away.’
According to a separate report by the BBC, travel company Tui, which owns Thomson and First Choice, said that the outlook for 2014 remained promising despite one-off costs and weak French demand in 2013.
The holiday operator added that trading for winter was on track, with 60 percent of its programme already sold, adding that it was ‘pleased’ with summer 2014 trading. Tui has now terminated unprofitable routes and reduced its long-haul programme.
