Wi-Fi Demand at Conventions Is Huge, and It’s Only Getting Bigger
Photo Credit: Convention hotels are under serious pressure to boost Wi-Fi capability in their function space. Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin
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Meeting planners are asking hotels with large convention space to prove the quality of the Wi-Fi before signing any contracts. They're also willing to pay for solid Wi-Fi versus always asking for comp'd service.
There is a certain amount of foreboding in the meetings and conventions industry around the future of Wi-Fi connectivity, or more specifically, the quality of connectivity.
It goes without saying that people are sucking up more bandwidth at hotel and convention centers year-over-year as more attendees bring more devices to large events. Tablets, for instance, can use up to three to four times more bandwidth than a phone.
But that’s really only the tip of the iceberg.
Video watching on mobile is looming big time. According to the worldwide IAB Original Digital Video Consumer Study in April, 35% of respondents on average worldwide report watching more video on their phones versus last year. That number jumps higher in the U.S. (50%), Canada (42%), and the U.K. (40%).
Additionally, the Internet of Things is going to explode in 2016 with a 30% rise expected in the number of connected objects impacting our daily lives, according to the Gartner IT company. Those objects can ran
