Why High Speed Internet Access Wireless Internet connections are becoming as common in hotels as cable TV and a free newspaper on the doorstep. "We're at the tipping point where it's going from an added value to an expected amenity," said John Burns, president of Hospitality Technology Consulting in Scottsdale, Ariz. "It becomes a competitive disadvantage [if hotels don't have Wi-Fi]." Nearly 25,000 hotels globally will offer some degree of Wi-Fi by 2007, according to Pyramid Research, a Cambridge, Mass., research firm. In 2002, just 1,000 hotels worldwide were equipped for wireless connection. "Who wants to go down to the lobby to do work?" said Jon Leven, senior vice president of marketing for US Franchise Systems Inc., Microtel's parent company. Having the free wireless connection in the rooms is a "huge competitive advantage" particularly since the hotel is an economy chain, where costs can average just $50 to $60 a night, Mr. Leven said. When trying to attract business, it's a selling point that attendees will have wireless connection," said John Wolf, a spokesman for Marriott International. "It's a value-added amenity." Fairmont's 44 hotels worldwide have wireless connections in its public spaces such as lobbies, lounges and in some properties even poolside. The hotel chain is keeping an eye on the trend and expects demand for in-room wireless connections to take off in two to three years, Mr. Taylor said.