I am a HHonors Platinum member and stayed at the Hampton Inn Las Vegas Tropicana property last night.

I travel weekly and give the Hilton Family of Hotels about 70% of my business. This was my first Hampton Inn stay ever. Generally I stay at higher end properties. I just had trouble getting a room last night and this was the most reasonable.

For what it was, I thought the price to be reasonable, the place was certainly adequate and clean. I loved the high speed internet, especially for free! I travel with a wireless card, but it much slower.

My question: Why would internet access be free at mid-level properties like Hampton Inn and you have to pay for it at high level properties when you often pay 3X as much for a room. I know that this is not just a Hilton thing. The other chains do the same thing. Logically, internet should be free at the high end and available as an add-on at the budget properties, right?

Just wanted to know if somebody knew the logic behind this.

Thanks!