Hyatt To Provide Free Wi-Fi Access In Lobbies And Guest Rooms Worldwide
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
Hyatt listened to guest feedback and now will offer free Wi-Fi
In a response to guest feedback and an effort to improve the overall guest experience, Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that they will be providing free Wi-Fi access at all Hyatt hotels worldwide, “providing connectivity and convenience regardless of booking method or loyalty program participation.”
The service will be available starting in February 2015, and travelers will be able to access the free service on an unlimited number of mobile devices or laptops in all guest rooms and common areas in each Hyatt hotel.
“Internet connectivity is no longer an amenity. It has become an integral part of travelers’ daily lives and a basic expectation,” Kristine Rose, vice president of brands for Hyatt explained. “Travelers shouldn’t have to remember which brands or locations offer it for free or the strings attached to get it.”
The decision ultimately reflects the efforts of the brand to hear what its customers need most. “Our colleagues are committed to not just listening to what our guests say, but understanding their real needs. This practice has already brought us new ways to make a guest’s stay more personal and seamless, from expedited check-in methods to easier ways for guests to make requests,” Rose said.
“Today, people consider smartphones just as important as their car, and more important than television or coffee. Travelers feel out of sync with their lives when they can’t freely connect. 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,” Rose explained.
Both Marriott and SPG have made similar announcements recently, which indicate that free Wi-Fi access will become a norm in hotel offerings for the future.Marriott also began providing charging stations in an effort to counter negative publicity in light of FCC fines for blocking personal Wi-Fi hotspots. In comparison to the other announcements, however, Hyatt’s plan is more favorable since it will offer free Wi-Fi to all guests, not just loyalty members and not excluding guests who didn’t book directly with the hotel.
Hyatt will offer Gold Passport Diamond and Platinum tier members a complimentary upgrade to premium Wi-Fi service where available.