Adoption of WLANs in the Hospitality Industry: A Theoretical Cost-Analytic Framework

Wireless technologies are gaining popularity as a “trendy” solution to attract customers; many hospitality-related companies such as Starbuck’s or McDonald’s are trying to offer these services to their patrons (Wrolstad, 2004). While several hotel corporations are trying to jump on the bandwagon, there are a number of factors potentially influencing the decision of whether or not to implement wireless technologies in hotel properties. This research in progress paper provides an overview of the use of this technology in the hospitality industry. The paper uses a cost-theoretic model to analyze adoption decisions using social, technical, and organizational standpoints.