In today’s hospitality industry, Wi-Fi is no longer a hotel amenity, it’s a deciding factor that defines the guest experience. Studies shows that reliable internet access ranks among the top three reasons guests choose a hotel. But “reliable” now means more than strong signal bars in the guest room. Guests expect connectivity that follows them across the lobby, meeting rooms, restaurants, and even beyond the property – automatically, securely, and without logins.
This is where OpenRoaming™, developed by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), is redefining what “great guest Wi-Fi” means.
Real-World Deployment: Mercure Paris Porte de Versailles Expo
For the third consecutive year (2023–2025), WBA hosted its Wireless Global Congress EMEA Working Sessions at Mercure Paris Porte de Versailles Expo, part of the Accor Group, which operates more than 1,100 Wi-Fi-enabled hotels across Europe.
The hotel’s OpenRoaming deployment was delivered in partnership with Wifirst, European leading managed Wi-Fi operator, providing “ as a Service “connectivity solutions to leading brands such as AccorHotels, Club Med, and The Ascott.
Guest Experience Elevated
At Mercure Paris Porte de Versailles, guests and WBA delegates experienced stress-free connectivity powered by OpenRoaming.
- Seamless onboarding: Guests connected automatically using credentials from trusted identity providers (e.g., Google, Apple, Windows, or mobile carriers).
- Security by design: Encrypted authentication through WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise ensures privacy and data protection.
- Global mobility: Once connected, users can seamlessly access any OpenRoaming-enabled venue worldwide, whether they first registered in Westminster or Tokyo or other identity providers.
- Operational efficiency: Staff remained securely connected across the property, enabling faster service and real-time collaboration.
About WiFirst
Wifirst is the European leader in managed Wi-Fi for professionals. The operator deploys and operates high-performance, secure and sustainable “as a service” connectivity solutions. Its know-how and technologies appeal to IT decision-makers from the largest companies and public organizations (AccorHotels, Havas, The French Ministry of the Army, Norauto, The Ascott, etc.) The operator has 12 offices across Europe and operates 420,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in more than thirty countries. More info: www.wifirst.com/en.
How OpenRoaming Works:
OpenRoaming operates as a global federation of Wi-Fi networks that interconnect through trusted identity and access providers.
1. Automatic Discovery:
Devices recognize participating networks and connect instantly.
2. Federated Authentication:
Identity providers (mobile operators, enterprises, or cloud services) securely verify users.
3. Encrypted Access:
WPA2/WPA3 and IEEE 802.1X ensure enterprise-grade security.
4. Seamless Roaming:
Users move between OpenRoaming hotspots without re-entering credentials.
For hotels, this means fewer helpdesk calls and a more consistent digital experience. For guests, it means Wi-Fi that simply works everywhere.
Data Insights: WGC Paris OpenRoaming Growth (2023–2025)
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Trend / Observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Client behavior | Spiky | Smoother | Sustained connections | Improved tuning and retention |
| 5 GHz usage | Dominant | Dominant | Column 4 Value 2 | Mature device mix and load distribution |
| 6 GHz usage | – | Slight Increase | Continued Increase | Increase potential for Wi-Fi 6E/7 |
| Impacted clients | Moderate | Minimal | Moderate | Stronger reliability and performance |
Interpretation:
Between 2024 and 2025, the OpenRoaming deployment evolved from pilot-stage to stable, production-grade performance. Client reconnections and congestion dropped noticeably, reflecting better network optimization, this is a clear indicator of a mature, resilient system with OpenRoaming.
Why It Matters
OpenRoaming transforms guest Wi-Fi into a loyalty-driven digital touchpoint:
- For hotels: Differentiation through superior connectivity, data insights, and secure engagement.
- For guests: Automatic, encrypted access that extends across their travel journey from city to city and property to property.
- For the industry: A foundation for next-generation Wi-Fi (6/7), private 5G, and IoT convergence.
Beyond connectivity, OpenRoaming turns Wi-Fi into a strategic loyalty asset, enabling differentiated service tiers, targeted offers, and better data insights that translate directly into brand value and repeat bookings.
CAPPORT Deployed At Mercure
What Is CAPPORT?
CAPPORT (Captive Portal API) is a standard that allows Wi-Fi networks to provide devices with clear connection and onboarding information through a simple JSON file. Instead of using traditional browser-based captive portals, devices automatically retrieve this file on join, ensuring they understand the network’s status and where to access any required onboarding, delivering a more predictable, seamless user experience.
CAPPORT Configuration at Mercure
- Configured DHCP Option 114 (CAPPORT API):
The DHCP server was updated to include Option 114, which provides endpoints for the Captive Portal (CAPPORT) JSON API. This ensures that any device connecting to the network automatically knows where to retrieve the required portal information. - Implemented and Hosted CAPPORT JSON API:
A JSON file is served at the URL referenced by DHCP Option 114. This file defines the key parameters devices need to determine portal behavior. The JSON currently contains:
{
“captive”: false,
“user-portal-url”: “https://www.wirelessglobalcongress.com/capport/”,
“venue-info-url”: “https://www.wirelessglobalcongress.com/capport/”
- captive: Indicates the network is not using a captive portal flow.
- user-portal-url: The URL directs devices to the OpenRoaming onboarding portal.
- venue-info-url: Additional venue or operator information, using the same URL in this configuration.
End-to-End Device Flow Validated:
Once a device joins the Wi-Fi network and receives its IP address, it automatically retrieves the CAPPORT JSON file. The device then reads the user-portal-url field, allowing the OS to correctly identify and open the appropriate OpenRoaming onboarding portal.
Why CAPPORT Matters for OpenRoaming
CAPPORT is a key enabler of the seamless experience delivered at Mercure. By providing devices with a standardized way to discover onboarding and venue information, it removes the friction typically associated with captive portals. The CAPPORT API ensures that:
- Devices automatically know where to retrieve OpenRoaming onboarding details.
- Operating systems avoid unnecessary captive-portal checks that could interrupt the seamless experience.
- Guests and staff receive a consistent, reliable onboarding flow across all device types.
In practice, CAPPORT operates quietly in the background to ensure OpenRoaming functions smoothly, making secure, seamless connectivity “just work” across the property.
Conclusion
As hospitality brands compete on guest experience, OpenRoaming is fast becoming a core infrastructure standard, uniting security, simplicity, and global interoperability.
The industry is entering a new era where connectivity defines both experience and loyalty. OpenRoaming fulfills that vision by providing secure, seamless connectivity at global scale.
The collaboration among Mercure Paris Porte de Versailles Expo (an Accor hotel) Wifirst and the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) proves that seamless, secure connectivity isn’t just a vision, it’s already reality.
