Forget over-the-top hotel amenities, Canadians just want to feel at home

Hotels.com asks Canadians: What makes you want to stay over?

TORONTO, Jan. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - What do Canadians want when they get away: an enormous flat screen TV, a shower that fits five, or a personal butler? Apparently, it's none of the above. It turns out what Canadians actually want is more simple - the comfort of their own home.

In a recent survey hotels.com® asked its Canadian email subscribers , including those in Quebec, about what they look for in hotel accommodations, and you might be surprised at what they had to say. While the luxurious, albeit sometimes outrageous, amenities you often hear about are clearly appreciated by some, for Canadian travellers this is not the case.

Staying Connected…for Free - Number One Must-Have

• 28 per cent of Canadians chose free Wi-Fi as their number one must-have

For all Canadians whether travelling for work or leisure, having free Wi-Fi in their hotels is key. This trumps both free parking and free breakfast showing that a connection to the online world is a necessity for modern-day travellers.

"Given the explosion of mobile use in the past few years, it is no surprise that travellers are requiring free and fast Wi-Fi," said Taylor L. Cole, APR, director of public relations and social media for hotels.com. "Many guests never travel without their tablets, smartphones and laptops. It's as intuitive as packing a toothbrush. Guests use these items in their rooms to plan activities for the next day. We are also seeing an uptick in mobile booking the day of a stay. Guests are creating their trips while on-the-go with Tonight's Local Deals on our site and the hotels.com mobile apps, which feature exclusive mobile deals - it is only natural that they'd want to stay connected while in their hotel rooms."

The Perk of New Technology - Number One "Modern" In-Room Amenity

• 24 per cent of Canadians chose high-end coffee makers as their number one modern amenity

Besides enjoying premium coffee, Canadians still desire that connection with the online world. More than 23 per cent of Canadians, a close second, chose iPads for guest services, local information and personal use as the second most enjoyed new amenity at hotels.

Little Things that Count - Most Appreciated Simple Amenity

• 34 per cent of Canadians chose complimentary bottled water as the most appreciated simple amenity

Sometimes it's the smallest things that make the biggest impressions, and for Canadian travellers that thing is free bottled water. The other options including amenities like robes, cordless phones and bottle openers were less than 5 per cent each.

Bath Butler? No Thanks - Least Favourite Amenity

• 28 per cent of Canadians chose bath butlers and bath menus as their least favourite amenity

Out of the amenities including designer toiletries, pillow menus and turndown service, bath butlers (a concierge that draws a bath with your personal selection of scents, oils, etc.) and bath menus was voted the most overhyped amenity. While some 'luxury' perks may make a hotel stay memorable for Canadians this one simply isn't of interest.

We Don't Need to Make Calls from the Bathroom - Least-Used Amenity

• 34 per cent of Canadians do not use a bathroom phone

The amenity least used in hotels was the bathroom phone. Really though, how many people want to make or receive a call while "going"? The mini bar comes in second at 28 per cent.

The Best Things in Life are...Taken?

• 75 per cent of Canadians have never stolen anything from a hotel

For some, the best things in life are free...even if they're not supposed to be, however, this does not apply to Canadian travellers. Turns out we're not only nice, but we're good house guests too - even more honest than Americans, with 34 per cent having admitted to taking a hotel room amenity home.

Hotels.com makes it easy to book accommodations with amenities and hotel deals you actually want. When it comes to travel, for Canadians, comfort really is key. So while tanning and bath butlers are considered top-notch service for some, most Canadians don't care for them. Provide the simplicities of home with a little added luxury and you have a happy hotel guest.

All hotel deals are subject to availability. To book your hotel room, visit www.hotels.com, call 1-800-CA-HOTELS or use our mobile apps. Other news is available at our media room: http://press.hotels.com/en-ca.

Editors Note: Quebec-specific results, while similar to those of English Canada, are available upon request.

About hotels.com
Hotels.com also known in Canada as hotels.ca) is a leading provider of worldwide accommodations to Canadians, offering reservation services through its website at www.hotels.com and its toll-free call centre at 1-800-CA-HOTELS (1-800-224-6835). Hotels.com offers travellers the widest selection of accommodations - from traditional hotels to vacation rentals - at almost 145,000 properties in Canada, the United States, Europe, and around the world. The company offers a one-stop shopping source for hotels, with 2.5 million customer reviews, a Price Match Guarantee,  an industry leading loyalty rewards program, welcomerewards®,  and pricing in Canadian dollars.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hotelsdotcomca and Twitter at www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcomca. Hotels.com is a brand owned and operated by Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).

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