Free Wi-Fi available for Campanile Hotels guests

Guests staying at Campanile Hotels in the UK could find they are able to use VoIP solutions to communicate with friends and family through free Wi-Fi access.

During trials to test the technology, the hotel brand found that internet usage by guests rose by a factor of four and the service is designed to acknowledge the integral role that broadband now plays in everyday life, reports Breaking Travel News.

David Anderson, Campanile's UK operations director in northern Europe, says hotels can charge as much as £20 per hour for internet access, but the free Wi-Fi service will enable guests to check their email and watch television on-demand without worrying about the bill.

Mr Anderson told the website: "Hotel brands tend to be selective as to which of their hotels charge for Wi-Fi and which don't. This is confusing for customers who look for continuity across a brand and can be caught out when presented with an unexpected bill."

Wireless technology is being considered by the government as a possible way of delivering better services in remote UK communities.