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Free WiFi touchdown @ Mercer Street Hotel.
Enjoying the free WiFi at the refurbished Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street Hotel...
Today we spent the day at the Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street Hotel to test their complimentary WiFi for guests (unique among hotels in Covent Garden as far as we know) as part of our free WiFi touchdown campaign.
We started this campaign to promote a more forward-thinking approach to technology in the hospitality business by helping promote London hotels with free WiFi in contrast to hotels (often in the luxury category) that exploit guests to impose shameless charges for such a basic necessity – without always disclosing this information before people book.
Our campaign aims to encourage travellers and companies to pick hotels with free WiFi to communicate today’s expectations to the luxury hotels that are reluctant to comply with such basic 21st century requirements.
We kicked off the first day of our project this morning enjoying a lovely breakfast of poached haddock and eggs benedict courtesy of the Dial Restaurant at the Mercer Street Hotel, while admiring the restaurant’s festive decorations and the lovely view over vibrant Covent Garden.
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The eggs benedict was deliciously smothered in Hollandaise sauce
After breakfast we met Kristy who works at the luxury hotel in Covent Garden. She gave us a tour to show us the hotel’s gorgeous recently refurbished rooms, offering eight deluxe suites, six studios, fifty-one king deluxe rooms, fifty-six doubles and sixteen twin rooms – all with free WiFi.
A working area and Apple TV are also included in all deluxe and studio rooms and deluxe suites – ideal for videoconferencing. You can also request the connecting cable from reception if you want to hook up your laptop and browse the web from your TV. This hotel is highly recommended for companies looking for hip yet practical London meeting venues.
Book direct with Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street at best guaranteed rate
The lounge in the deluxe suites can also function as a workspace
We learned that before the refurbishment, Radisson Edwardian did some research which found that customers are often frustrated by the hotel minibar which can result in charges that you didn’t expect or budget for.
At the Mercer Street Hotel they have instead designed “minibar fridges” in each room for guests’ personal use – you can either stock them up with your own goodies and drinks, or ask the hotel to if you prefer. Like the free WiFi, this is another perfect 21st century guest-friendly solution.
The Mercer Street Hotel also has a progressive environmental philosophy by providing toiletries in larger containers that are kept in the rooms and refilled daily to guarantee guest satisfaction. In the suites they even let guests take the box of premium deluxe toiletries home!
Book direct with Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street at best guaranteed rate
How refreshing to find a convenient minibar fridge in a hotel to give you the option to pick up your own drinks and sandwiches from the local grocery store or have it refilled by the hotel
And what magnificent suites they are too…most are built on the corners of the hotel to guarantee stunning views over London’s rooftops.
From one of the suites we could even make out the London Eye. It also had huge walk-in wardrobes with space not just for hanging clothes but for an inspiring SMEG fridge too (complete with union jack – very Covent Garden!) and a dressing table, chair and mirror. Ladies will love it!
Book direct with Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street at best guaranteed rate
A funky studio at the Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street...everything looked absolutely brand new and there were lots of inspiring little touches
During our live tweeting session at the Mercer Street Hotel, we also received the news that Nokia has launched 26 free WiFi hotspots with unrestricted web access across central London.
In light of this news, it seems even more bizarre that certain luxury hotels (including the Covent Garden Hotel from Firmdale which is just a couple of doors away!) find it necessary to take advantage of visitors to the city who are forced to pay WiFi charges that are becoming ever more unnecessary.
As was tweeted to us today by leading travel writer John Williams (@eurapart – tweet shown below), so-called “luxury” hotels that charge for WiFi will start to look ever more ridiculous!
One of the many conversations on Twitter that slates those luxury hotels that insist on the anachronism of WiFi charges
Photo credits: London Hotels Insight blogger Timea.
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