CHICAGO
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced plans to offer free Wi-Fi at all Hyatt properties worldwide, regardless of the booking method used, starting in February 2015.
Travelers will be able to access free Wi-Fi on an unlimited number of mobile devices or laptops across all guest rooms and social spaces. The decision was made based on customer feedback.
“Internet connectivity is no longer an amenity. It has become an integral part of travelers’ daily lives and a basic expectation,” said Kristine Rose, vice president of brands for Hyatt. “Travelers shouldn’t have to remember which brands or locations offer it for free or the strings attached to get it.”
Hyatt previously limited free Wi-Fi to certain brands and elite members of the Hyatt Gold Passport loyalty program. Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond and Platinum tier members will receive a complimentary upgrade to premium Wi-Fi service starting in February.
Several major hotel brands, including Marriott and Hilton, have experimented with free Wi-Fi, often limited to loyalty program members and those who book directly with the hotel.
In the recently released 2015 Meetings Focus Trends Survey, free Wi-Fi access was the third most important criteria for selecting a hotel among planners, behind location and rates.
