Hotels Still Want to Manage Wireless Access

Re/Code is reporting how Marriott and other hotel operators want FCC approval to be able to effectively block the use of mobile hotspots.

If the hotels provided reliable WiFi so work can get done, the need for mobile hotspots wouldn't be necessary. But they don't. What's more this is really a "wolf in sheep's clothing" move by the hotel industry to use Wi-Fi and in essence mobile networks as an excuse to justify how they are no longer making money on:

1. Phone calls-people use their cell phones

2. Movie rentals-iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, Hulu

3. Room service Delivery-Grubhub, Delivery.com, Amazon Fresh

4. Gift shop necessities-Amazon Fresh

So the mobile hotspot becomes the target of attack but really this is all about hotels wanting to maximize revenue beyond the "free WiFi."

The irony here is when the speeds at San Diego International Airport for Wi-Fi got really slow some years back the suggestion of the IT Director was to use a mobile hotspot. Hotels could do the same and actually reduce the level of customer support calls, dissatisfaction with WiFi and guests opting to stay elsewhere as reliable WiFi is the third most wanted feature by hotel guests.

Hotels, guests, mobile networks can also all be working together. For starters, hotels can rent access to mobile operators, install DAS systems and improve their in building coverage. They can also boost their WiFi, improve the quality of broadband coming to the property and give the guests a work like experience, even if the guest has to pay a fair price for it. To me, paying for reliable WiFi, or paying a higher rate for a room that includes it, is far better than paying less, and getting less, and that's something the hotel industry hasn't quite figured out yet, in their race for profits, at the sake of guest dissatisfaction.