Free Internet for Gold and Platinum Members Worldwide

Marriott Concierge · Sep 13, 10, 7:19 am

Good Morning, FlyerTalk community.

I wanted to share with all of you an announcement we recently leaked on Marriott Rewards Insiders, providing an update to our free Internet benefit for Gold and Platinum Elite Members.

We’ve been happy to see our Gold and Platinum Elite Members take advantage of free Internet at 700 hotels across North America, and today, it gives me great pleasure to provide you with an...update:

Starting January 2011, Gold and Platinum Elite Members can enjoy free internet worldwide at these brands:

* JW Marriott®
* Autograph Collection®
* Renaissance® Hotels
* Marriott® Hotels & Resorts

Please note, every guest will continue to receive free Internet at all EDITION (SM), Courtyard®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, SpringHill Suites®, Residence Inn® and TownePlace Suites® hotels.

You’ve told us that free internet is both important and expected. We heard you and are ready to help you stay in touch wherever your travels may take you.

Full details of the expansion of this benefit will be available online September 15, 2010 here. The site will be updated with the global information then.

Thank you and enjoy!

-Andrew and the Marriott Concierge Team

aaupgrade · Sep 13, 10, 7:59 am

That is good news, and as you mentioned kind of expected given the competition.

The surprise here is:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marriott Concierge

Starting January 2011, Gold and Platinum Elite Members can enjoy free internet worldwide at these brands:

* The Ritz-Carlton®

An elite benefit at RC? Now that's a quantum leap IMO.

longing4piedmont · Sep 13, 10, 8:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaupgrade

That is good news, and as you mentioned kind of expected given the competition.

The surprise here is:

An elite benefit at RC? Now that's a quantum leap IMO.

Perhaps there is another shoe to drop in the near future.........

dw · Sep 13, 10, 8:25 am

Actually, I am somewhat confused about what this will mean for Courtyard as it is not specifically included in the list above w/ the FS properties. Although internet is free for Courtyards domestically, it is not at many international properties. I have to assume this was just an oversight in the way the message was drafted?

aaupgrade · Sep 13, 10, 8:34 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by longing4piedmont

Perhaps there is another shoe to drop in the near future.........

I was thinking the same thing after I posted. January 2011 didn't sink in when I first read it, probably because I was distracted by RC being included. After it finally registered, it occurred to me that a lead time of 3 months may well be indicative of more substantial changes than just free WiFi. I guess we will find out once official word from MR is forthcoming.

msuroo · Sep 13, 10, 8:39 am

Well done! Will be interested to see if anything else comes of the RC inclusion.

boomdog · Sep 13, 10, 9:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by dw

Actually, I am somewhat confused about what this will mean for Courtyard as it is not specifically included in the list above w/ the FS properties. Although internet is free for Courtyards domestically, it is not at many international properties. I have to assume this was just an oversight in the way the message was drafted?

However, it is listed in the next paragraph:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marriott Concierge

Please note, every guest will continue to receive free Internet at all EDITION (SM), Courtyard®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, SpringHill Suites®, Residence Inn® and TownePlace Suites® hotels.

Looks to me like Courtyards will have free i-net internationally for everyone (even if they don't right now).

bd

socrates · Sep 13, 10, 9:47 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaupgrade

I was thinking the same thing after I posted. January 2011 didn't sink in when I first read it, probably because I was distracted by RC being included. After it finally registered, it occurred to me that a lead time of 3 months may well be indicative of more substantial changes than just free WiFi. I guess we will find out once official word from MR is forthcoming.

Your reading too much into the 3 month lead time.....

aaupgrade · Sep 13, 10, 10:06 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by socrates

Your reading too much into the 3 month lead time.....

Too bad. One can always hope.

GenevaFlyer · Sep 13, 10, 10:12 am

Andrew and team,

Quote:

Originally Posted by dw

Actually, I am somewhat confused about what this will mean for Courtyard as it is not specifically included in the list above w/ the FS properties. Although internet is free for Courtyards domestically, it is not at many international properties. I have to assume this was just an oversight in the way the message was drafted?

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomdog

Looks to me like Courtyards will have free i-net internationally for everyone (even if they don't right now).

Could you please confirm whether boomdog's interpretation is indeed correct?

In other words, will free Internet be extended to international Courtyards?

All: please note the edit, and the post on Marriott Insiders ... Ritz Carlton is no longer mentioned.

But, overall, thanks for the great news!

Thanks and cheers,

GenevaFlyer

aaupgrade · Sep 13, 10, 10:26 am

Oh well, in that case it us just a case of MR being late to the game. Still nice, none the less.

So, why the 3 month lead time?

aaupgrade · Sep 13, 10, 10:42 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by socrates

Your reading too much into the 3 month lead time.....

LOL. Not to mention that I was reading too much into Gold and Plats getting free internet at The Ritz-Carlton® too.

hhoope01 · Sep 13, 10, 10:49 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaupgrade

LOL. Not to mention that I was reading too much into Gold and Plats getting free internet at The Ritz-Carlton® too.

You scared them into dropping RC from the list.

boomdog · Sep 13, 10, 10:52 am

I think its creepy that posters on FT can go back in time and edit prior posts. I frequently find myself looking for something that I'm absolutely sure I saw in a post, but the wording just isn't what I remembered.

It's like I've been sent to an alternate universe in which almost everything is exactly identical, except that internet at the Ritz Carlton isn't free for MR plats.

It makes me wonder what else is different.

This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife.

bd

Marriott Concierge · Sep 13, 10, 10:58 am

Good Afternoon, FlyerTalk community.

My apologies regarding the list of hotel brands associated with the expansion of this benefit. Allow me to provide some clarification.

As of this moment, The Ritz-Carlton is not participating in this benefit. However, free high-speed internet access will in fact be extended to international Courtyard properties.

Thank you,

Andrew and Marriott Concierge Team