Fewer hotels are offering free breakfasts, more are charging for late cancellation, and more are offering free in-room wireless Internet access. Ironically, though, the more you pay for your room, the less likely you are to get free Wi-Fi.
Those are some of the findings from a recent survey of 10,000 hotels conducted by Smith Travel Research for the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Wireless Internet access is being offered by 91 percent of hotels, up 35 percent from four years ago, according to the survey.
Only 15 percent of hotels charge for Internet access, down from 18 percent in 2006 and 22 percent in 2004. But charges for Internet access were most common at more expensive properties, with three-fourths of luxury hotels and 91 percent of "upper upscale" hotels charging guests to access the Internet from their rooms.
Thirty-five percent of the hotels that responded to the survey also offer iPod docking stations in their rooms, and most of these hotels were also luxury and "upper upscale" properties.
Nearly three-fourths offer a computer in the lobby for guest use, though economy hotels are least likely to offer this service.
Fifty-nine percent offer a complimentary breakfast, down 9 percentage points from 2006.
Forty-seven percent have indoor swimming pools, and 58 percent have outdoor swimming pools.
Forty-three percent said they have flat-screen TVs in guest rooms, and 57 percent said they upgraded bedding packages in the past year. Eighty-two percent offer a refrigerator in rooms, up from 68 percent in 2006.
The number of hotels offering vegetarian menus rose to 48 percent, up 16 percentage points, while the number offering "healthy menu" options rose to 66 percent, up 15 points.
Nearly a fourth of hotels participating in the survey said they offer "allergy-free rooms," and about two-thirds said they use energy-efficient lighting. Nearly 40 percent said all of their rooms are nonsmoking.
In terms of rates, 67 percent of respondents offer weekend special rates, up 8 percentage points from 2006, while the percentage that charge for late cancellation rose 8 percentage points to 82 percent. Fifty-six percent said their properties allow pets, but 61 percent charge extra for the service. Free newspaper delivery to guest rooms dropped to 70 percent from 83 percent in 2006.
The survey is conducted every two years. More than 45,000 hotels throughout the U.S. were invited to participate in the survey by e-mail or fax. More than 10,000, or 23 percent, responded, according to Smith Travel Research and the American Hotel & Lodging Association.