Thompson and First Choice are owned by TUI Travel

Thomson and First Choice have confirmed they will provide Wi-Fi free of charge next summer across key hotel concepts.

Customers staying in Thomson Sensatori, Couples, Family Resorts, Scene and Gold hotels, as well as First Choice Holiday Village, SplashWorld, Club Magic Life and SuneoClub resorts will be able to stay connected online during their stay without extra charges.

From May 1st 2014 free Wi-Fi will be available across 135 hotels in 42 destinations, with access available throughout the hotels, benefiting nearly one million customers.

The introduction of free Wi-Fi across the hotel portfolio will make Thomson and First Choice hotels the leading provider of free hotel Wi-Fi, reaching the largest number of destinations internationally.

Research carried out on Thomson and First Choice customers revealed that customers valued Wi-Fi over traditional hotel amenities such as room service and those in family resorts rated Wi-Fi access almost as significant as having quiet time and relaxing by the pool.

Research revealed that 60 per cent of guests valued Wi-Fi and rated it as important to their overall holiday experience.

Mark Hall, director of product, Thomson and First Choice, commented: “We know how highly people value Wi-Fi in hotels as a service and as such we will be offering free Wi-Fi throughout our exclusive hotel concepts at no extra cost to our guests. 

“Through research we’ve seen that Wi-Fi is an integral part of our customers’ holiday experience and that they want to access social media sites, keep in contact with loved ones at home and research the area they are staying in whilst away.”