Travelodge to introduce free Wi-Fi to hotels

Travelodge is to offer free Wi-Fi to its customers in its hotels with bar cafés across the country.

The firm has claimed it is the first budget chain to do so, in a move that appears to be aimed squarely at rival Premier Inn, which charges a fee for the service.

Travelodge's new service will be implemented in all Travelodge Bar Cafés hotels by 12 September 2011.

Guy Parsons, Travelodge chief executive, said: "We are always looking at ways to help our 13 million customers get even more value for their money whilst staying in one our 478 Travelodge hotels. Our customer research has highlighted that in today's modern world travellers want internet connectivity whilst on the move, so that they can work and cyber-socialise around the clock, and with the popularity of smartphones reaching an all-time high, mobile internet access is becoming more of a necessity in everyday life.

"Therefore in response to this growing consumer need, we have decided to make all of our Bar Cafés a free Wi-Fi hub; enabling our customers to enjoy the benefit of free internet whilst staying with us."

Travelodge seeks £135m National Parks expansion >>

Travelodge in pub firm talks for small hotel acquisitions >>

Edinburgh to see 13% increase in hotel room stock >>

By Neil Gerrard

E-mail your comments to Neil Gerrard here.

If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk

Caterersearch.com jobs

Looking for a new job? Find your next job here with Caterersearch.com jobs