Bitbuzz, has recently announced UK deals with Tune Hotels, easyHotels, Days Hotels, Queensway Hotels, Ramada, and Wyndham Hotels, reporting a surge in demand as London hotels race to offer fast reliable Wi-Fi in all their bedrooms by the end of the month and the start of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Irish based company is now supplying Wi-Fi to 17, 1300 bedroom, London hotels.
The expected increase in tourism for the Olympic Games has prompted London hotels to ramp up their Wi-Fi offering to meet the surge in demand and many have looked to Bitbuzz at short notice to meet this requirement.
Recent figures released by the Office of National Statistics (July 2012) reports a 6% increase in spending to £18.2 bn to the end of May 2012 and anticipates a record 12.3 million holiday visitors to the UK during the summer period.
“Visit Britain expects many first time visitors to London from Brazil, India, China and Russia on top of the estimated 30.7 million tourists that visit Britain annually. Journalists, family and friends of visiting athletes, the hyped-up Opening Ceremony scheduled for Friday 27th July and, following on from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, a swell in numbers from among the 90 million residents in 14 of the world’s largest cities are all factors that have combined to generate increased global interest and the subsequent expected rise in visitor numbers,” says Russell McQuillan, Business Development Director, Bitbuzz.
“With the continued increase in smartphone and tablet use, consumers value the ability to access the internet quickly and at all times. With this comes the expectation of Wi-Fi availability at all venues, especially hotels. Cost effective, quality Wi-Fi has become increasingly important to travellers when they look for accommodation,” he adds.
Joe Stenson, Director of Queensway Hotels added: “We were very pleased with the speed and efficiency by which Bitbuzz was able to set up in our hotels. For us fast, reliable Wi-Fi is now a ‘must have’ offering for our customers, especially those visiting from other countries.”
Roops Johal, Director of Ramada Heathrow said: “We have experienced high levels of usage since taking on Bitbuzz, showing the importance of Wi-Fi to our customers. We are expecting to be extremely busy during the Olympic Games and we are pleased that even during this exceptional period we can offer the very best in service to our customers.”
Since entering the UK Wi-Fi market, Bitbuzz has already installed Wi-Fi to various high-profile venues throughout the country, including Choice Hotels, Tune Hotels, easyHotels, Kensington Rooms and Conference Centre, Costa Coffee, and Holiday Inn Express.