Hyatt made an announcement yesterday that starting in February 2015 all guests staying at Hyatt affiliated hotels regardless of booking channel would get complimentary WiFi access.
At the same time, Hyatt is making the premium internet option complimentary for Platinum and Diamond Gold Passport members.
You can access Hyatt’s web page for this announcement here.
Hyatt is here merely following IHG Rewards Club that made internet available free for all members earlier this year. Marriott made an announcement in October that all members would get complimentary access starting in January. Then SPG followed last week announcing their complimentary access for all that book direct from next year as well.
You can read more about these developments on the following articles:
Starwood Hotels Offering Free Internet For All SPG Member That Book Directly Starting Feb 2, 2015
Marriott Rewards Free WiFi Expanding To All Members January 15, 2015
Marriott Gold & Platinum Elite Benefit Upgrade: Premium Tiered Internet Access Now Worldwide
IHG Rewards Club Free Internet “Worldwide” (Except Europe) Update
IHG Rewards Club Free Internet In Europe Confirmed From July 2014
And issues with the internet access at hotels:
Nonworking Hotel Internet – Would You Stay Or Leave?
Compensation Clinic: No Working Internet & In-room Safe Problems
Hotel “High” (None) Speed Internet Case: DoubleTree Jakarta Diponegoro
Whine Wednesdays: “Free” Hotel Internet (Worse Than Previously)
Conclusion
It didn’t take long for Marriott, Starwood and then Hyatt to follow what IHG Reward Club started earlier this year. Numerous guests satisfaction surveys have shown that people REALLY hate paying for internet access and hotels charging for it are getting lower overall scores.
Now, only the Hilton HHonors is an outlier that doesn’t offer free WiFi for all and premium access complimentary for their top tier members (IHG Rewards Club also).
I just truly hope that the hotels have adequately updated their bandwidth because nothing is worse than a complimentary internet that just doesn’t work.
