Last week, Hilton announced that they would give their gold and diamond level HHonors program members a new perk: Free wi-fi.
Umm, whoo-hoo?
Other major chains have similar policies in place, but it’s only a nice elite perk because high-end hotels have such absurdly-priced internet access to begin with. My wife recently caved and paid $14.95 — plus taxes — for late-night slow-ish in-room access at a Westin in Atlanta . (Colleagues at the Hyatt down the street got a relative “bargain” for $12.95. Sigh.) That’s how much we used to spend for a month of mid-tier DSL in Chicago.
So now Hilton is giving some elite members a useful perk, but isn’t the real issue the obnoxiously high charges that the chain is charging in the first place?
(To be clear, the internet is already free for everyone at Hilton brands that don’t aspire to be labeled “luxury.” Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites, for example.)
And while Hilton is reserving the free wi-fi for mid- and upper-level elites with 16 stays or 36 nights a year, what about the lower-level elites? If I were a silver HHonors member, I’d be annoyed that my business wasn’t worth a free couple hours’ surfing.
Even better, other chains comp wi-fi for all their members, and not just elites. For example, I have no status with the boutique-y Kimpton chain, but by simply being a member of their program, I got free wi-fi at a Kimpton property recently. Omni is another chain that comps all their members with wi-fi.
From where I sit, the free-wifi-for-elites programs actually make these chains look worse, not better. It’s like making a big deal for having electricity or hot water, and giving it only to your most frequent guests. Touting this new “perk” just exposes how they’re not providing great value to everyone else who visits their hotels.
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August 18th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
I wonder how many travelers now have 3G wireless cards for their laptop thus no longer care about hotel wifi? I don’t, but I do have an iPhone, so on some trips I don’t even bring a laptop and just use the phone.
August 19th, 2010 at 12:21 am
i agree…terribly annoying…as a gold, I am grateful for the new “perk,” if they want to call it that, but as a meeting planner, I used to have to negotiate discounts and comped internet for my conference attendees. Now that “perk” isn’t even an issue since so many use their own access..now I just try to get discounts on the coffee break charges!
August 19th, 2010 at 1:47 am
Do you think the hotels are just going to eat the lost profit from Internet charges? That’s highly doubtful. It isnt going to come out of the GM’s bonus check at the end of the year. One way or another we’re going to pay for it. When I book a hotel, I generally try to figure out upfront what the total cost to me is going to be. One hotel might give me “free” Internet, but another one gives me “free” parking or breakfast.
August 19th, 2010 at 3:15 am
Twitter Comment
Hate European and American hotels like Hilton charging guests fees for internet – it’s free in many 3rd world countries
August 19th, 2010 at 6:27 am
This is just another example of why the mid-range hotels are where business travelers should stay. Instead of a Hilton, pick Hampton. Instead of a Westin or a Sheraton, pick Four Points. Instead of a Hyatt, pick Hyatt Place. etc.
August 19th, 2010 at 7:57 am
[...] More hotels give elites free wi-fi [...]
August 19th, 2010 at 11:32 am
From experience, the problem with hotel wifi – whether free or not – is the speed is usually crap.
August 19th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
I use the phone for email and simple browsing – I guess that the Hilton know their guess do the same
August 19th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Staying at a Kimpton right now. WiFi is so slow, I’m glad I didn’t have to pay for it!!
August 19th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Like so many other people I have mobile internet access with me all the time. So it really doesn’t make any difference if they give use free wifi. It seems to be many years too late to be considered a real perk.
August 20th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
[...] More hotels give elites free wi-fi | Upgrade: Travel Better – highlights how much these hotels gouge travellers already [...]
August 22nd, 2010 at 6:52 am
Not a big deal. I don’t know why most of the hotels are so slow in catching up with the essentials of life. Wi-Fi must be included in the hotel rate as it’s like water and electricity for which they don’t provide us a separate bill at the end. Why should they do this for the Internet?
Rahman Mehraby
Destination Iran