This will be of cold comfort to Jack, who has been struggling this week to get high-speed internet access in his room, despite his hotel's promises. But the Economist (paid sub required) reports this week that "internet access in hotels is fast becoming a standard amenity", like free shampoo and in-room porn "pay-per-view movies".
This, of course, is the dreaded "air conditioning scenario" where consumers get for nothing something that quite a few companies had bet on them having to pay for (early on in the days of air conditioning in hotels, people thought travellers would pay more to have a cooled room. But then every decent hotel got it, and the advantage was lost).
It's good news for people who own broadband pipes, and it's very good news for consumers. But spare a thought - albeit brief - for people who set up businesses on the basis they could sell it on at anything from $10 to $25 a day. And - newsflash - the same thing is going to happen with Wifi, as I wrote last year. But just not in time for Jack's visit, I'm afraid.
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