Wi-Fi service worsens hotel ratings in Panama

Clients of hotels of the highest category in Mexico, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Panama they believe that more than 50 percent represent some problem in wifi connection, which lowers the final grade they give that institution, according to the study.

Based on customer reviews expressed on popular booking portals, The international telecommunications company Eurona prepared the analysis “10 also counts in wifi” in a total of 1036 five-star hotels in Mexico, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Panama (4-star hotels are also included here).

The vast majority of these facilities achieved a score of 5 or higher in terms of connectivity, and only 6 hotels remained below that level, 1.72%.

26 hotels were located with a rating between 5 and 5.9 (2.5%), between 6 and 6.9 there were 57 facilities (5.5%), and between 7 and 7.9 another 178 (17.18%).

The largest percentage of hotels (38.90 percent, 404 facilities) scored 8 to 8.9 in connectivity, while 141 of them (13.60%) scored 9-9.9, and another 56 (5.30%) scored 10. There is no data for another 168 hotels (about 16%).

The study then goes on to see if those Wi-Fi connectivity scores are higher, lower, or equal to the overall score the establishment received from customers.

This comparison shows that five out of ten five-star hotels in these four countries receive a lower than global average rating of 51.15% (531), compared to almost 30% that have a higher Wi-Fi rating (306).

In almost three percent (31 facilities) the connectivity rating and the overall rating match, and there is no data for the other hotels.

He Eurona Director for Latin America, Miguel Añorve, He pointed out that better connectivity increases user satisfaction, and also results in hotel occupancy and thus business results.

Currently, the quality of the internet is valued more than other aspects of the establishment: “we are looking for a good bed, a good bathroom and good internet” more than other services, because for the so-called “digital nomads”, who appeared as a result of the pandemic, it is necessary to have a connection in the hotel that allows them to work remotely, access different entertainment platforms and that their son can attend classes virtually, he added.

Therefore, it is important to commit to a comprehensive high-level connectivity plan.

Añorve explained that many hotels that now have low Wi-Fi scores were performing better before covid-19, but with the pandemic, a “perfect storm” occurred: greater demand for technology and higher quality, and a lack of resources as hotel activity stagnated.

Eurona currently operates in 10,000 rooms of large hotel chains in Croatia Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic and in five international airports in the vicinity: three in Colombia (El Dorado, Matecaña and Cartagena de Indias), one inside Panama (Tocumen) and one inside Dominican Republic (Punta Cana).