US Businesses Waste $7.3 Billion On Wi-Fi And Roaming Charges Annually

NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- US companies spend a combined $7.3+ billion annually to allow business travelers paying to stay connected while they travel, according to global research release today from Amba Hotels, hotels for the discerning business traveler. The average US business traveler spends $15.10 on Wi-Fi and roaming charges on each trip.

When it comes to Wi-Fi charges, it appears that hotels and airports are the worst offenders, with some charging up to $26 for 24 hours. Having to pay for Wi-Fi services also impacts the efficiency of the working day with two thirds (67 percent) of US business travelers regularly unable to work efficiently due to slow or unreliable Wi-Fi connections. For example, 39 percent have been unable to join a work call or videoconferencing meeting, fourteen percent have missed an important work deadline and more than half (55 percent) have felt the impact on their personal lives after being unable to contact friends and family.

To help travelers avoid the frustration of feeling disconnected or having to pay additional fees that add up quickly for a their employer – or themselves – Amba Hotels is the only location offering completely free, high-speed Wi-Fi to all patrons. 

Primetime TV and radio host, keynote speaker, best-selling author and global business celebrity Jeffrey Hayzlett said, "In today's 'always on' world, fast, free, reliable Wi-Fi is a non-negotiable for modern business travellers. With airlines and rail companies investing in Wi-Fi on board and international roaming charges falling dramatically, it's inexcusable to keep charging exorbitant rates for patchy Wi-Fi connections. I'm pleased to see that Amba Hotels is championing fast, free Wi-Fi and hope their competitors follow their lead. The impact of doing so will positively impact the bottom line, not to mention the general well-being of travelers around the globe."

The Amba Hotels research found travelers to/in other markets face the same dilemma; the overall cost of Wi-Fi to businesses globally and in key business travel markets:

• US – $7.3 billion annually (average spend $15.10 per trip)
• UK – £371 million annually (average spend £16.30 per trip)
• France – €232 million annually (average spend €22.10 per trip)
• Germany – €3.6 billion annually (average spend €21.10 per trip)

Mike DeNoma, CEO of glh, the parent company of Amba Hotels said, "Wi-Fi is consistently one of the key criteria that influences our guests' choice of hotel – in fact for some people, it's more important than a good night's sleep! Our Wi-Fi has no caveats, no loyalty schemes no limit on uploading or downloading. It's the fastest, free, unlimited Wi-Fi of any Meeting & Events hotel."

NOTES TO EDITORS

Research was carried out by Gabriel Research & Management Ltd in the UK, USA, France, and Germany, from the 19-25 January 2015 with 750 respondents per country

Amba Hotel Charing Cross has the fastest free, unlimited Wi-Fi in the world in any Meetings & Events hotel, as measured on HotelWifiTest.com between 13th of October 2014 and 01st of December 2014 (listed as The Charing Cross Hotel) with an expected speed of 184 Mbps (max speed of 510 Mbps) and on RottenWifi.com between 9th of October 2014 and 01st of December 2014 with an average download speed of 134.3 Mbps and average upload speed of 90.7 Mbps, measured within at least 3 or more independent tests. www.amba-hotel.com/fastestWiFi

Research sources:

UK - 22,776,000 business trips taken from the UK in 2014
Source - Mintel report, Business Traveller - UK, August 2014

USA - 482.4 million business trips taken from the USA in 2014
Source - 2014 Report from the GBTA Foundation, the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) http://www.gbta.org/PressReleases/Pages/rls_011215.aspx

France – 10,482,352 million business trips in 2013
Source – Brief Market – Information France 2015 http://www.germany.travel/media/en/pdf/marktinformationen_in_kurzfassung/Frankreich_kurz.pdf

Germany - 171.1 million business trips taken from Germany in 2013
Source - VDR Business Travel Report 2014 http://www.cimunity.com/fileadmin/uploads/startseite_en/VDR_Business_Travel_Report_2014.pdf

About Amba Hotels:
Amba Hotels aims to be a global operator of contemporary 4 star hotels owned by glh, the London-based global hotel subsidiary of the Singapore-listed GuocoLeisure Group.

The Amba Hotel Experience has been designed in response to customer feedback, delivering seamless technology and authentic experiences in a premium location:

• Amba Hotel Marble Arch will be the next to open, driving expansion into London, and followed by plans to expand into Asia, the USA and Europe in the future
• Smart TVs are installed in every room to make it easy to sync devices or stream from subscription accounts and USB sockets are provided in every room at the bedside
• Nespresso® coffee machines in every room, so guests can enjoy top quality coffee whenever they want – for free
• The latest technology, from check-in kiosks to smart in-room apps and iPads in every room that guests can use to surf the net, order room service, learn more about the hotel or simply discover more about London
• A hotel brand with unique designs, driven by the individual location of each hotel, including artwork to reflect the city's iconic attractions
• Our people are all local experts, available to help and guide guests so they get more from their stay
• On-site business and leisure facilities that meet the needs of executives using the hotel as a personal business base or business event location, or when travelling on leisure

www.amba-hotel.com

About glh:
glh refers to GLH Hotels Management (UK) Limited, the new name of Guoman Hotel Management (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of GuocoLeisure Limited.

glh is the largest owner-operator hotel company in London with over 4,000 hotel rooms. In total glh has 8,279 bedrooms 337 meeting rooms across 36 Hotels in the UK.

www.glhhotels.com

Mike DeNoma, CEO glh

An American citizen, Mike DeNoma moved to the UK to take up his new position in 2012. Before joining glh Mike DeNoma was chairman, president and chief executive of Chinatrust Commercial Bank, one of Asia's first international Chinese financial institutions. Previously, from 1999 to 2009, DeNoma was chief executive of the Global Consumer Bank at Standard Chartered.

Earlier in his career he was the founder and chief executive of two nationwide companies in China and held senior executive positions with Hutchison Whampoa, Citibank and PepsiCo after starting his career at Procter & Gamble.

A devoted family man and keen ultramarathon runner, DeNoma regularly competes in athletic challenges to raise money for disadvantaged children.

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SOURCE Amba Hotels