South African hotels providing connectivity to visitors

The last month I have traveled quite a bit and stayed at a few hotels in Gauteng and the North West. I have been impressed with the number of foreign visitors in Sandton and shared thoughts with a few of these visitors. At the Balalaika and the Bull Run Restaurant a few friends joined flight crew from a French airline and were able to discuss food, wine and hospitality.

A specific section in the foyer of the Balalaika intrigued me as I spotted a few visitors behind cups of coffee and computers screens. I approached management at the Balalaika with the following questions:

• Do many of your visitors enquire about access to the internet?
As majority of our clients are corporate travelers, both local and international, they do acquire frequently about the internet connection in the hotel.

• Are these individual guests, conference attendees or the public in general?
The conference attendees generally organize data bundles for the delegates and often set up the business centre for them to use.

Individual leisure guests are usually interested in checking their private email and various social networking websites, while the corporate guests can have a range of needs – from only checking the emails to video conferencing.

• How does the Balalaika cater for the connectivity / internet needs of guests?

In the lobby there are 4 computers for the guests to use, as well as internet stations for the laptop users with cable connection requirements. Whole hotel and the neighboring Bull Run restaurant are covered with wireless network. Vouchers are available to guests at the hotel reception.

• Are there any guidance from the Protea Hotel group on this or does the hotel formulate its own strategy?

Each hotel has its own strategy.

• Have you experienced an increase in the amount of lap tops brought to the hotel and usage of these laptops around the hotel

Yes immensely, but even more lately we are noticing people using smart phones as a travel substitution for a computer.

The Arrive Alive Road Safety Website has been developed with the objective to provide an information portal for all road users. Efforts to create awareness of road safety can only benefit if connectivity is provided to local and foreign road users. This will also be complimented through efforts such as the arrivealive.mobi website and this Blog. Our compliments to those hotels who are committed to providing internet connectivity to guests!!

Also visit the section: “Road Safety Advice for Foreigners driving in South Africa”