Hyatt Hotels will offer free WiFi at its hotels to all
customers, starting next February.
There will be no limit on how many devices guests use to
connect to the Internet from hotel rooms or public spaces.
“Giving free Wi-Fi without a catch will enable us to
continue innovating the guest experience to help people be more productive and
stay better connected to colleagues, friends and family,” said Kristine Rose, Hyatt’s
vice president of brands.
Hyatt already provides free WiFi at some of its brands as
well as to loyalty members. Starting February, those loyalty members will
receive a free upgrade to “premium” WiFi service at hotels where that amenity
is available.
In October, Marriott International said that it would
provide free WiFi at full-service hotels (Marriott, JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton
and Renaissance) for Marriott Rewards loyalty members who book through Marriott
channels, starting Jan. 15. The company’s select-service brands already offer
complimentary WiFi. That policy spurred opposition from ASTA and Signature
Travel Network.
Last week, Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced that it
would start offering free WiFi on Feb. 2 for loyalty members who book directly
through Starwood’s digital channels and guests who book through travel agents
who participate in the SPG Pro program.