Free wifi effective January 15
Oct 31, 2014, 4:31 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,074
This is Unique to Marriott as they are ones giving out the Free Internet too.
Anyone else think the timing of this is not random after Marriott was skewered for blocking internet access?
Last edited by jr1202sr; Oct 31, 2014 at 6:27 am
Oct 31, 2014, 5:47 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,112
In Asia Marriott Rewards members have been receiving free Internet the last 2 to 3 years if not longer. I don't feel that the connections are slower or less responsive than the paid Internet connections in the US.
But maybe it will reduce the herds of people going to the lobby for free Internet in the evenings.
But maybe it will reduce the herds of people going to the lobby for free Internet in the evenings.
Oct 31, 2014, 5:59 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,074
In Asia Marriott Rewards members have been receiving free Internet the last 2 to 3 years if not longer. I don't feel that the connections are slower or less responsive than the paid Internet connections in the US.
But maybe it will reduce the herds of people going to the lobby for free Internet in the evenings.
But maybe it will reduce the herds of people going to the lobby for free Internet in the evenings.
Oct 31, 2014, 6:45 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,112
Details on Marriott News section of its website:
http://news.marriott.com/2014/10/fre...worldwide.html
[I]"Marriott announced today plans to provide free Wi-Fi to all 47 million members of Marriott Rewards who book directly on Marriott.com, Marriott’s mobile app, 1-800-MARRIOTT, or through a Marriott hotel. Beginning January 15, 2015, this benefit will make free standard Wi-Fi available across more than 3,800 hotels in the company’s extensive lodging portfolio worldwide.
This new Marriott Rewards benefit will be available at Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Gaylord Hotels, Autograph Collection, AC Hotels by Marriott, and Marriott Executive Apartments, as well as Marriott Rewards’ exclusive luxury partner, The Ritz-Carlton®. These brands join EDITION, Moxy, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Marriott Vacation Club, which already provide free Wi-Fi today.
Marriott Rewards Platinum and Gold Elite members will continue to enjoy an exclusive benefit – free enhanced Wi-Fi, where available.
.
http://news.marriott.com/2014/10/fre...worldwide.html
[I]"Marriott announced today plans to provide free Wi-Fi to all 47 million members of Marriott Rewards who book directly on Marriott.com, Marriott’s mobile app, 1-800-MARRIOTT, or through a Marriott hotel. Beginning January 15, 2015, this benefit will make free standard Wi-Fi available across more than 3,800 hotels in the company’s extensive lodging portfolio worldwide.
This new Marriott Rewards benefit will be available at Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Gaylord Hotels, Autograph Collection, AC Hotels by Marriott, and Marriott Executive Apartments, as well as Marriott Rewards’ exclusive luxury partner, The Ritz-Carlton®. These brands join EDITION, Moxy, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Marriott Vacation Club, which already provide free Wi-Fi today.
Marriott Rewards Platinum and Gold Elite members will continue to enjoy an exclusive benefit – free enhanced Wi-Fi, where available.
.
Oct 31, 2014, 7:21 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,074
I don't see how the two things are different, in Asia all Rewards members get free internet, now worldwide all members who book through certain channels get free internet. If anything the new offer is more restrictive as the channels are limited, whereas in Asia all bookings are valid.
I stayed at chain this past year and didn't sign up for their Reward program, bc the chance of me ever staying there again was about 0. Wasn't worth the time. There are tons of people that stay at Marriotts that are not rewards Members for a variety of reasons.
Oct 31, 2014, 8:46 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Major flashback
Reading these posts has brought back memories of the dial-up days before everyone travelled with a computer. I was at one hotel back east that actually had a letter in the info binder explaining that they could not guarantee you'd be able to get an outside line during the hours of 5pm - 7pm due to all the people using their room phone to call their ISP. And that included the ability to make emergency calls!
Today, there are times I find tethering to my cell is a much faster solution to using the property provided service. I suspect some ISPs like at&t or Comcast will increase their WiFi signal footprint to promote their service.
Today, there are times I find tethering to my cell is a much faster solution to using the property provided service. I suspect some ISPs like at&t or Comcast will increase their WiFi signal footprint to promote their service.
Oct 31, 2014, 9:00 am
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,103
One has to sign up for the Rewards program to be a "rewards member". You do not need to be a Rewards Member to book a hotel through Marriott.
I stayed at chain this past year and didn't sign up for their Reward program, bc the chance of me ever staying there again was about 0. Wasn't worth the time. There are tons of people that stay at Marriotts that are not rewards Members for a variety of reasons.
I stayed at chain this past year and didn't sign up for their Reward program, bc the chance of me ever staying there again was about 0. Wasn't worth the time. There are tons of people that stay at Marriotts that are not rewards Members for a variety of reasons.
Marriott is not extending it to every person who stays at the brands (that are now joining the brands that already offer free wifi). Marriott is extending it to Marriott Rewards members only who book through official channels, not to people who stay at a Marriott that don't belong to the rewards program (even if they book through official channels).
Cheers.
Oct 31, 2014, 12:06 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
At the lower tier Marriotts (Fairfield, Residence Inn, etc) is there tiered-access? I never see it when I log in, but it also says "access code". Anybody ever got faster access?
Oct 31, 2014, 2:21 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PBI/FLL/MIA
Programs: DL DM/2MM, MR Ambassador, National EE
Posts: 1,614
I disagree completely. Bandwidth at hotels is a MAJOR issue right now. At peak times the service can be very slow. Adding a lot more users without upgrading the Network will make it not usable. Are you saying you think all the FS Marriotts are out there increasing their bandwidth?
This is Unique to Marriott as they are ones giving out the Free Internet too.
Anyone else think the timing of this is not random after Marriott was skewered for blocking internet access?
This is Unique to Marriott as they are ones giving out the Free Internet too.
Anyone else think the timing of this is not random after Marriott was skewered for blocking internet access?
Oct 31, 2014, 2:36 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National EE, AS MVP Gold 75K, AC 75K
Posts: 997
Oct 31, 2014, 5:44 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Programs: MR LT Titanium, IHG Plat.,UA Premier Silver, & PA/OH Turnpike Million Miler
Posts: 2,311
--Jon
Oct 31, 2014, 7:29 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Tucson AZ
Programs: Global Entry, United Silver, Marriott Platinum Premier, Hilton Gold
Posts: 380
Not be be deliberately whiny, but the "enhanced" speed I get for free at CYs as a platinum is only slightly above the free speed and barely better than nothing. Sometimes it won't even hold in a simple VPN connection to the corporate office. I can get work done, but it's often a struggle and on some occasions I have to resort to my cell phone as a hotspot. I can deal with it but if I actually paid the $4.95/day for the "enhanced" speed I'd be pretty pissed off.
Oct 31, 2014, 10:30 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,112
One has to sign up for the Rewards program to be a "rewards member". You do not need to be a Rewards Member to book a hotel through Marriott.
I stayed at chain this past year and didn't sign up for their Reward program, bc the chance of me ever staying there again was about 0. Wasn't worth the time. There are tons of people that stay at Marriotts that are not rewards Members for a variety of reasons.
I stayed at chain this past year and didn't sign up for their Reward program, bc the chance of me ever staying there again was about 0. Wasn't worth the time. There are tons of people that stay at Marriotts that are not rewards Members for a variety of reasons.
And therefore the tons of non members will not get free Internet. I would say this is more an attempt to get more people to sign up, and generate more repeat business than it is to please existing members
Oct 31, 2014, 11:27 pm
#29
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,578
Marriott is not extending it to every person who stays at the brands (that are now joining the brands that already offer free wifi). Marriott is extending it to Marriott Rewards members only who book through official channels, not to people who stay at a Marriott that don't belong to the rewards program (even if they book through official channels).
Cheers.
Cheers.
Nov 1, 2014, 3:32 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,112
Still the connections don't seem to suffer from it.