Avatar's Blog

I spent the weekend in Depot Bay, Oregon, at a timeshare resort. I was trying to get some work done, requiring internet connectivity. I was prepared - I had my Verizon Wireless card, laptop, charger, travel sized mouse and support materials with me. Confidently, I set up shop in the condo. No luck. Spotty connectivity for me; nothing for my daughter. We packed up our gear and headed off into the night, looking for connectivity on the Oregon coast.

Naturaly, the next day, the sales staff wanted me to spend some quality time with them. This time, I was with my daughter, so I took her to a sales presentation so she could learn how they work. Eagerly, the salesman launched into his spiel. Cutting him off gently, my daughter inquired as to whether internet connectivity was imminent. Otherwise, she pointed out, she wouldn't be a customer. Without connectivity, she can't work and without being able to work on the road, she'd be needing to find another place for lodging. The salesman was surprisingly nonplussed. He couldn't understand why she or I would want to work on a holiday. After going round and round on this for awhile, I finally laid it out as plainly as I could.

1950: One person in the family needs to work. The whole family stays home.

2006: One person in the family needs to work. The family packs up laptop, Frisbees, and swim suits - heads for the beach. Worker accomplishes necessary tasks in an hour or two. Spends the balance of the day in 'quality time' with the family.

The promise of the Internet is the mobility of the work environment. It frees us to move data around the glob without hauling files cabinets and removing secure data from the vault. It's time the hospitality industry caught up with the program. If you're in the hospitality development, renovation or operations business, take heed. Without wireless Internet access, your property will suffer decreasing revenues as the competition with wireless access eats your lunch.