What Do People Want Most In Hotel Perks?

Above, the Hotel Asia Center of Japan in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What are the most sought-after perks people look for when choosing a hotel to stay at?

Condé Nast Traveler has an article on just this subject.

They found:

As it turns out, good food—namely, a complimentary breakfast—is the No. 1 perk travelers want from a hotel, with an in-hotel restaurant coming in at No. 2. (Free Wi-Fi, of course, wasn’t far behind, because how else will you post all those beach pics to Facebook?).

If I remember correctly, the only hotel I stayed at that had a complimentary breakfast was the Washington Hotel in Nagasaki, Japan (I checked their website and it appears this is no longer offered, but they do have free wired Internet). Most hotels also had an in-hotel restaurant and free Wi-Fi (the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno has free Wi-Fi and the Hotel Asia Center of Japan has free wired Internet and a restaurant). I have not yet stayed at a Japanese hotel with a swimming pool (pools must be a rarity in Japan).

I've stayed at very few hotels in the U.S. since the advent of the Internet and Wi-Fi. The only ones that immediately come to mind pertaining to Wi-Fi are the Crowne Plaza O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois and the Blake Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. Both charge guests for Wi-Fi. If this is any indication, it appears Japan's hotels are more generous when it comes to Wi-Fi. Both of these hotels do have swimming pools and restaurants (although pricey).

To read the full Condé Nast article, go here.