If you are an experienced business traveler, there are many advantages to a business center in hotel lobbies. How many times have you checked in, got to your room, and found that your wireless card is not picking up the signal? This is mainly because the construction of newer hotels is such that the steel used to build the property blocks the signal. This is really frustrating, especially when you need to check emails or verify certain information about an account.
As difficult as having to fly to your destination and with additional charges for additional luggage, bringing your portable printer may not make sense or cost-effective. So after closing your big sale and needing to fax the order for processing, you are now forced to wait until you get home. Or is it you?
Over the past five years, nearly every hotel has added a lobby business center. You will usually find multiple computers, a fax machine, a copier, and obviously Internet access. Fortunately, the cost of using these facilities is still inexpensive, but they are as functional as being in your office or your home office.
At first, many were poorly equipped, and connecting to the Internet was often nearly impossible. Now, everything is at your beck and call. Even if you can access the Internet remotely, with your laptop, the extra office equipment comes in handy and you rarely have to wait.
They are also very easy to use. All it takes is cash to put in a machine and get a debit card for the center. As you use your time, a clock will show you how much time you have left, so you cannot be overcharged for additional time. And you probably won’t waste your time. They are truly designed so that you can get to work and finish as quickly as possible. When you travel, you can finish your day in a much shorter time than if you were stuck in your office or sitting at your desk at home.
Some of the more exclusive hotels will have the newest technology available. It allows you to test some software or printers that you may not have access to elsewhere. There have been many travelers who have asked where they can buy some of the things that are loaded in the computers, which in some cases, has not yet hit the market. Some software companies donate these products to get an idea of how people will respond to them before they are retailed. In fact, you may be required to check out some new products before leaving the hotel. The usual reward is a prepaid card to use on your next trip.
It’s all about convenience. With the breadth of help available at these centers, unless you use your laptop while in the field, you may be able to travel a little lighter and still be fully functional. The more you use a business center in hotel lobbies, the more you’ll like them.
When you or anyone making your hotel reservations calls, you should always ask the person making the reservation if there is a business center on the premises. They can make your day so much easier and the work that you would be stuck doing when you get home will get done sooner and in some cases better!