Le Club Accorhotels - Accor to offer free wifi in all Asia-Pacific hotels

Originally published on www.businesstraveller.asia 20/08/2012 -

Accor has confirmed it will introduce free wifi internet in all of its Asia-Pacific properties by the end of this year.

The group, which has close to 500 hotels in the Asia-Pacific region, currently offers free internet services in many of its mid-scale brands such as Novotel, Ibis (see story here) and Mercure, but not in luxury brands such as Pullman and Sofitel.

After the introduction, guests in all the hotels will be able to check emails and surf the web for free, but will have to pay for activities requiring a higher bandwidth.

Last month the Accor Asia Pacific Business Traveller Survey 2012, which polled 2586 people from across Asia, revealed that free internet was becoming an increasingly important factor in influencing hotel choices (see story here).

An increasing number of Asian hotels have begun offering wifi to their customers for free over the past few years (see story here). Last year, Marriott International introduced free wifi for all its Marriot Rewards members.

A step in the right direction I say. ^

Hello RJ77,

Thanks a lot for the comment. I am glad to hear that you are happy. I hope others will be as much as you are!

Have a good one,

Chris

Originally published on www.businesstraveller.asia 20/08/2012 -



A step in the right direction I say. ^

Hello RJ77,

Thanks a lot for the comment. I am glad to hear that you are happy. I hope others will be as much as you are!

Have a good one,

Chris

Chris,

Any projected date for all Accor hotels to offer free wifi? Where are the black spots after the APAC improvements?

Great improvement! From my experience there is a black spot in the UK where one needs to pay for wi-fi accross all brands.

There are some workarounds though: some Orange mobile phone plans are bundled with free wi-fi (I'm actually not on Orange but one of my family members is :D) and being nice to the receptionist. Both worked ^.

Hi Starflyergold,

Thanks for the question. I don't have that information, but I can ask internally and get back to you on both points.

Cheers,

Chris

Chris,

Any projected date for all Accor hotels to offer free wifi? Where are the black spots after the APAC improvements?

Wow - this is great news! I frequently stay in Accor hotels in Australia, Thailand and China, and the cost of internet has always been annoying, especially considering my AP membership.

Hopefully it rolls out consistently!

Hi Starflyergold,

Thanks for the question. I don't have that information, but I can ask internally and get back to you on both points.

Cheers,

Chris

Is there any update or more information available on the date when free wifi will be available for Accor hotels in Asia?

Hi Chris,

Do you have any update on this? When shall this be in place?
Will be soon travelling in Asia-Pacific and would be nice to use free WIFI.

Was in the IBIS in Bangkok last month and WiFi is free in all IBIS hotels in Thailand

Hi Altantico,

Thanks for bringing the issue back up. I have still have yet to get a response to this issue. I'm going to ask again. I'll get back to you on this forum once I receive a response.

Thanks again and all the best,

Chris

Hi Chris,

Do you have any update on this? When shall this be in place?
Will be soon travelling in Asia-Pacific and would be nice to use free WIFI.

What I observe is all new properties which started operating within the last 12 months are already offering free Wifi from day one of their operations, it's the older properties that are slowly converting to free Wifi, some at a faster pace than the others.

One data point in Singapore. Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore has already started implementing free wifi throughout the property like what 3-4 months ago? While Novotel Clarke Quay still insists on charging me for internet access (my last stay yesterday).

Stayed at the Ibis Budget AKL for a quick overnight (it's incredibly cheap and basic, but very close to the airport), and wifi wasn't free.

Hi all,

I was told that currently 1,700 properties offer free Wifi, but the objective is to ensure that all Accor properties offer high speed wireless internet connections. This policy is being implemented on a progressive basis. I, unfortunately, do not have precise details regarding specific hotels in the Asia Pacific region.

Thanks RJ77 for your input ^

Best,

Chris

This big news for me, since I *need* free internet and I mostly ignore hotels without it. i think a lot of us feel the same way.

Received a detailed survey today asking about the significance of the benefits of A-Club. One telling question was, would you stay more often if the internet was free? D'oh yes of course.

A lot more questions about potential new benefits with even a fleeting mention of a free night for a fixed amount of points !

Also asks which other hotel programs you belong to, and whether they are better than A-Club. Can't imagine that anyone will rank A-Club better than any other hotel program in this survey, perhaps it will wake up Accor management.

However there's always that glass ceiling on benefits, the Advantage Plus card. Accor can hardly provide the same benefits for free while they have people paying hundreds of dollars a year for the same thing.

A lot more questions about potential new benefits with even a fleeting mention of a free night for a fixed amount of points !

I sure hope not, not down that path of point redemption schemes that other hotel programs are onto. I want to be able to wine and dine at their restaurants during my hotel stay, ordering room service, go for the occasional spa, do laundry and come out not paying a single cent out of my pocket by using just the redeemed cash vouchers and at the same time still enjoy elite benefits (not that award stays not eligible for upgrades crap).



Also asks which other hotel programs you belong to, and whether they are better than A-Club. Can't imagine that anyone will rank A-Club better than any other hotel program in this survey, perhaps it will wake up Accor management.

When done right, it can be delightful as described by the poster below
I stayed there for 4 nights last month. I booked a Luxury room without breakfast. I am Platinum.

I was picked out from the queue in the A|Club dedicated line at lobby check-in when I was observed by a staff member to tap my chin impatiently with a small rectangle of shiny plastic with platinum-coloured edging. They seemed to be expecting me. I was escorted up to the Club floor for an exuberant greeting and check-in.

I was upgraded to Luxury Club room with China view, full Club access with privileges including breakfast, a bottle of wine, the welcome drink and the gift was an enormous picnic hamper which included a bottle of champagne.

Link to some of my photos of the place including the contents of the hamper:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11661335@N07/sets/72157627714823879/

The problem with this program is the inconsistency in elite recognition, that's the weakest point. And basically no elite recognition at other mid- to low tier properties.

And of course the poor corporate CS desk, but then that's another story.

However there's always that glass ceiling on benefits, the Advantage Plus card. Accor can hardly provide the same benefits for free while they have people paying hundreds of dollars a year for the same thing.

I'm not sure why you perceive Adv Plus as an elite program, hence the "glass ceiling" notion? Adv Plus members don't get elite benefits other than what they're entitled to when they sign up for the membership which are basically dining benefits, a free night or two and some discounts off BAR. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the Adv Plus card, and has been a member for five years, I think it's value for money but to think that paid card holders should take precedence over elite customers staying at least 60 nights a year is just delusional and wrong. I certainly don't pay "hundreds" of dollars for my Adv Plus card, just a hundred plus, in USD :) but compared to what I spend a year on hotel bills, the revenue difference is clear. I will be pissed if a leisure traveller with Adv Plus card gets treated better than me at my regular Accor property.

So now let's get back to the original topic, shall we?

Several months ago (see below), Accor announced free wifi at all Accor hotels in Asia-Pac. Can you advise if this is still planned? Recent stays in NZ indicate that free wifi is not planned (management had not heard of these plans).

Thanks.


Free Internet at Accor Asia Pacific Hotels by end of 2012

20 August, 2012 by Martin Kelly | 1 comment

Free basic internet is planned at all Accor owned and operated properties in Asia Pacific within the next four months. Evan Lewis, Accor’s vice president of communications Asia-Pacific, told TTG Asia: “It is clear that we must take a position on free Internet. By the end of the year, Internet will be free in all Accor hotels across the region.”

At this stage the plan is that basic email and browsing will be free but users indulging in bandwidth heavy activities like watching movies will pay. Recent Accor research shows that the level of internet charges have a major impact of booking decisions.

I want to provide my recent experience on Asia/Pacif Hotels in regard to "free wifi"

Soiftel SO Bangkok
Room: Free
Hotel areas: Free

Sofitel Krabi
Room: Free
Hotel areas: Free

MGallery Veranda Chiang Mai
Room: Free
Hotel areas: Free

Novotel Auckland Airport
Room: Charge apply
Hotel areas: Free 30min at reception

Novotel Wellington
Room: Charge apply
Hotel areas: Free 30min at reception

Ibis Styles Gerladton
Room: Charge apply
Hotel areas: Free 15min at reception

Ibis Styles Alice Springs
Room: Charge apply
Hotel areas: Free 15min at reception

All Seasons Kangaroo Island
Room: N/A
Hotel areas: Free

Novotel Darwin
Room: Charge apply
Hotel areas: Free 30min at reception

Pullman Ayers Rock
Room: Charge apply
Hotel areas: Free 60min at reception

Mercure Launceston
Room: Free 30 min
Hotel areas: Free 30 min

Seoul Novotel Ambassador Gangnam

No free internet in rooms - about US$20 per day fee

No free internet in room or in lobby :(

Dear Accorconcierge
Could we have an update on the plan to offer free wifi in all APAC hotels by end 2012 ? Obviously, the objective isn't achieved, as last week, in Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay they charge the scandalous price of SGD 28 for 24hrs of wifi use.
Thanks

And if anyone knows: does the Ibis SYD offer any kind of free wifi, at least in the public areas?

Dear Accorconcierge
Could we have an update on the plan to offer free wifi in all APAC hotels by end 2012 ? Obviously, the objective isn't achieved, as last week, in Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay they charge the scandalous price of SGD 28 for 24hrs of wifi use.
Thanks

This property is notorious for that, I must have stayed at least 20 times at this property, it's never free unless you've booked a room rate that includes this. I have a Singtel simcard and always get it topped up when I arrive which I use it with my usb dongle. S$7 for a week's usage, 10Gb limit, more than enough for email checking and browsing. But it's just a shame Accor cannot enforce its policy at this property.