Wednesday 28 May 2014

Is your Marina, B&B or Hotel Truly Offering Free Wi-Fi?

A quick browse through hotel or vacation review websites will tell you how customers get really put off by the lack of internet connectivity in accommodations or other public spaces. In today’s day and age, most vacationers take free internet to be their right rather than a privilege.

With free Wi-Fi for B&B and Marinas becoming an increasingly common offering, the question is – Are you ready to make this value added offering at your establishment?

Offering Free Wi-Fi for B&B and Marinas

• Do you Offer Unlimited Wireless Access for Free and at no added charges?

You can confidently say that your hotel, marina or B&B’s Wi-Fi is free if your services come with no limitations such as only the first 60 minutes of the day free or giving only one access code for one device per room. When you say your establishment is offering “unlimited” Wi-Fi it means that you need to have no limits on downloads and uploads that each customer makes. However, to keep a level of control on your services, make sure your internet provider is able to offer you reporting capabilities that help you look at usage patterns and restrict bandwidth in some situations.

• Is your hotel, marina or B&B’s Wi-Fi Internet Speed High enough when Compared to Minimum Home Broadband Standards?

Considering that the actual speed tends to vary on the basis of the usage of all the visitors using your hotel, B&B or Marinas Wi-Fi, the objective should be to always offer minimum download or upload speeds that are equal to or more than the standard home broadband speeds. Make it a point to regularly test actual speeds at different times of the day, especially during the peak usage periods. There are a number of free online tools that allow you to do so. This will help you assess whether or not you need to upgrade your service to cater to peak traffic.

• Does your Wi-Fi service expect visitors to connect to your network by entering personal or financial details?

There are other ways to limit or secure internet access than by putting your guests and users through the ordeal of registering for an account to use the hotel, B&B or Marinas Wi-Fi service. Avoid making your internet service a route through which you acquire MIS. However, just because you are offering free Wi-Fi it does not have to mean that you provide it to anyone who passes by. Providing a wireless network password is an easy way to prevent unconstitutional usage.

Furthermore, make it a point to offer an internet setup process that allows visitors to connect and surf seamlessly without any interruptions. Also make sure that the wireless signal reaches every part of your B&B or property to ensure convenience in web connectivity.

Tuesday 27 May 2014

Wireless Fidelity - Innovative Uses of Wi-Fi that Changed the World

Wi-Fi is no more a service available in just home and office environments. With changing paradigms and conventions, Wi-Fi has been put to many innovative uses increasing its value and changing the way we look at the world.

• Social Wi-Fi in Restaurants and Cafes

Social Wi-Fi is a lot more than just offering free Wi-Fi services to your clientele to promote your brand. It not only helps in building customer loyalty but also incorporates various aspects including data-collection and marketing. Interacting with your customers is a very efficient process when you offer services such as Cafe Hotspots and Social Wi-Fi. It reduces error, involves faster responses and allows you to target the audience.

• Event and Mobile Wi-Fi

From business meetings and gatherings to large scale festivals and events, an increasingly important service required at such venues is Wi-Fi. However, handling such a network involves greater expertise than required for a home network. Due to the large number of users logging on to the portal, it is very important that the connection supports that kind of use. The safety and security of the users too must be kept in mind when such things are involved as it is more difficult to trace things back, especially with most people accessing the net through their mobile phones.

• Campsite Wi-Fi

You may not have access to a fully functional bathroom or a good restaurant the next time you go camping, but Wi-Fi is something you will not have to compromise on. With the change in the standard of living and want for leisure by customers, providers are constantly coming up with inventive uses of Wi-Fi such as campsite internet access. Now connecting with your friends and family while on road has become very easy.

• Equine Wi-Fi

This rarely heard of but increasingly popular service of Equine Wi-Fi is one of the most interesting uses of Wi-Fi today. This service not only offers customers and visitors at a stable access to internet to check their mail and accomplish other tasks, but also offers unique services to owners of horses such as a chance to view their horses on a real time basis.

• Wi-Fi in Vehicles

Due to globalization and shifting universal paradigms, there has been a large increase in corporate travel. With services such as Wi-Fi in vehicles, it is a lot easier for corporate travellers to get work done when on their way to a destination and ensures that no time gets wasted.

In addition to this, the hospitality sector too has put wireless internet technology to good use. The above mentioned services add a lot of value for the customers and increase satisfaction. In these fast-paced, changing times, such services are more of an investment than a cost!