Marriott to drop Internet fee at more hotels for VIPs

By Barbara De Lollis
September 15, 2010

Marriott plans to join rivals such as Starwood, Hyatt and Hilton in dropping the internet-access charge in most full-service hotels for VIP customers.

As of Jan. 1, Marriott will drop the $10-to-$15 daily Internet fee for its gold- and platinum-level loyalty members at full-service Marriott-brand hotels outside North and South America. The announcement does not apply to stays at Marriott's most deluxe chain, Ritz-Carlton.

What this change will do is expand the limited policy Marriott had put in place on May 7, after other chains had made similar internet-access charge announcements.

Currently, Marriott gives its elite-level members free access in guestrooms at hotels in North and South America. With this announcement, members will get free access at hotels elsewhere around the world, in addition to hotels that have joined Marriott's fledgling Autograph Collection.

How Marriott's new Internet-access-charge policy stacks up against rivals:

• Hyatt - In April 2009, Hyatt started giving all elite members free internet regardless of whether they book a five-star Park Hyatt or four-star Hyatt hotel.

• Starwood - On March 1, Starwood started giving free internet for its top-tier elites regardless whether they've booked a luxury St. Regis or upscale Sheraton.

• Hilton - On Sept. 1, Hilton HHonors stopped charging its diamond- and gold-level members for Internet access. The perk's good at all of Hilton's full-service hotels, including Hilton's most deluxe Waldorf Astoria properties. Previously, since April 2007, Hilton had given its top two elite-level members a choice between free Internet, breakfast and a room upgrade, or 1,000 bonus loyalty points.

Frequent travelers love to complain about Internet charges.

A common biggest gripe is that lower-priced chains - such as Marriott's own Courtyard, Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites - already include internet-access in the rate while pricier chains charge extra. Some boutique hotels such as Hyatt's still-small Andaz chain have also started to buck the trend by including internet-access in the rate.

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Marriott to drop Internet fee at more hotels for VIPs

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