The Jeff Pulver Blog: Questions from a Road Warrior:

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August 03, 2005

Questions from a Road Warrior:

(1) Why do hotels like Marriot put the ethernet cables for their broadband internet access in a small bag in the closet of the hotel room rather than in the desk drawer where the broadband terminal adapter happens to be?

(2) And why is it that coffee pots are placed in a hotel/motel bathroom rather than on a desk in the room?

Posted by jeff on August 3, 2005 07:02 AM | Permalink

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I always carry an Apple Airport Express with me. I plug it into the plug on the desk and the short little ethernet cable and "voila!", wireless internet access for my room. (I use a WPA key to keep other guests off my connection).

You can get other wifi-ethernet bridge and small form factor wireless acess points but I like the Airport because it is very small and also has a speaker and USB printer port which means if there are a few people working together and you need to share a printer you can do it over wifi.

Posted by: Rob at December 5, 2008 07:19 AM

Jeff,

I think I have an alternative answer for #1.

1. Coffee Makers do tend to be left on and burn. The likelyhood of one catching fire and doing serious damage to the bathroom as opposed to the hotel room itself is much higher. The other reason is, if you brew coffee in the room instead of the bathroom, the entire room can and likely will smell like Coffee, which turns off some guests. I for one don't always like the smell of Coffee in the morning, and certainly not in my bed when I'm trying to sleep.

2. Andy's absolutely right about that one. It's identity and a "What will they see first thing". And you just won't look in the drawers.

And responses to others:
3. Too short? Money. You can get short cables practically for free. Longer cables have to be paid for. It's also a worst case scenario. If you need longer, you'll bring one. It's also the reason why alot of laptop makers will include a cord in their laptops (or used to)

4. Room/Real Estate. It makes the room seem bigger when the room is big. There's also no expectation or belief that you'd actually DO work in your hotel room. If you need something the theory is you'd write a letter or postcard at the desk and be on your way. I think this is something that hasn't really caught up to the idea that we want a computer port so we can actually do work in the room or check email which no longer takes 5 minutes, it takes an hour or two if you're serious about email. I would also guess this points at the overall idea of the hotel only doing the minimum of what it takes to satsify a customer's momentary need.

5. That kind of thought isn't and wasn't in the build plan or building code of the original hotel. Nobody "plans" or "designs" hotel rooms anyway . They should, but they don't.

6. Hide-away stuff is simply that, a customer who doesnt care about the electronic or net stuff doesnt have to see nasty cables running out of everywhere. So it's on the underside.

7. Walls & Metal. Alot of companies put up wifi for the major areas of the hotel, and say "We have WiFi!". Very few actually think it through and put repeaters everywhere so you can actually get on the network. The presumption is that if you need the net, you'll go to Ethernet, or into one of the big rooms, dining areas or sitting areas in the hotel to have your meeting.

So anyway, that's the technie and business likelyhood approach ;D

Posted by: Traveller at August 4, 2005 08:33 AM

Perhaps I am in the minority here, but I think the bathroom is a perfect place for that first mug of joe in the morning. Handling a piping hot cuppa while barely dressed (or completely in the altogether, for that matterq)...talk about wake-up incentive! ;-)

Posted by: K2 at August 3, 2005 04:10 PM

Jeff,

Good questions these. As a road warrior myself I'd like to add to the list;

(3) why is the supplied ethernet cable always too short?

(4) why is the desk so very small?

(5) can they not ensure that there are sufficient outlets to plug at least two devices in without having to unplug the desk lamp or TV.

(6) why do so many properties have the IP connectivity stuff, including a power strip, attached to the underside of the desk/table? Don't they know that the power bricks always get loose and fall out?

(7) why have I literally never been able to get my wifi sip handset to work in any hotel?

Michael

Posted by: Michael at August 3, 2005 11:22 AM

Jeff,

I'll ask a friend or two who are Marriott GM's, but my first thoughts are as follows:

1. Coffee Makers. Many of the older properties have power outlets buried behind the credenzas. They would have to move the credenza to plug in. Since coffee maker elements may burn out, its easier to plug and unplug in the bathroom than move the credenza.

2. Ethernet Cables. Maybe it's easier to hang than open and close the drawers. But I also think it's a identity thing. If a person puts their suitcase in the closet, they may see the cables, and a lightbulb will go off. I for one rarely ever even open the drawers in a hotel room, unless I'm booked in the one property for more than a few days.

Posted by: Andy Abramson at August 3, 2005 08:46 AM

August 03, 2005

Questions from a Road Warrior:

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