True. Just like every other aspect of the hotel experience.

It depends how you define consistency. If you have specific bandwidth requirements, you're not going to be satisfied anywhere. If you're more reasonable and want "the best they have", you'll be fine.

If it matters to you, call.

From my experience, I haven't had problems with the internet access from a limited sampling of Starwood hotels. I assume that I was granted "Standard" wifi internet access as an SPG Gold member, but I really don't know since I was never told about any "Higher Level". Maybe Standard was the same as "Higher Level". Whatever wifi internet level I had, was acceptable. I have only had a couple of isolated issues with internet performance at non-Starwood hotels in the past 3-4 years.

It is just the road Starwood is taking with tiered internet access, there are sure to be disenchanted people with both Standard and Higher Level access. In the future, SPG members may be blaming the tiered internet performance offerings (As a Plat, the Highest Level was worse than 2G, for example) as opposed to not having tiered internet offerings. When that happens, I will have my popcorn ready to read the SPG Flyertalk forum :)

Not necessarily. If there aren't many users, the difference would not be noticeable. Or if the property improves its bandwidth because of this enhancement, then your connection may become faster.

As a PLT, internet access isn't a problem for me. That said, however, I think that this is a good move on Starwood's part and I applaud it.

The only way to know if there are multple levels is by the login page. If it shows different rates, then there are different levels.

It's a hotel-by-hotel decision. It is not a Starwood decision.

Even the fastest hotel Internet connection can be significantly slowed by just a few people streaming videos.

I agree with this. I'm a platinum and I'm delighted that Starwood is offering free internet to all members. I've long been perplexed that the lower tiers of hotel chains offer free internet to all but the higher tiers do not. Internet use is almost as necessary as breathing and water in this day and age. Phones are free. TVs are free. And now internet is free. Kudos to Starwood.

duplicate - also complimentary

As with a phone you may be able to admire the internet router too, but usage of both often attracts a fee. Very few places have free phone usage even if the existence of the phone is free :p

For me Internet is valuable, but, 100% of my travel is International (I live in Singapore), so it cuts down on roaming data or limited speeds in some countries

The award stay must be booked through our digital channels to qualify.

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Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

William et. al- many properties don't provide the option to select a higher or lower level of internet service. One is simply asked to input name/room number and then is connected, even though several levels are offered and advertised (for me, this most recently occurred at W SoBe). As a PLT guest, how will we know we are receiving the highest tier of service?

Given the frequent reports we get here on the forum of substandard internet, even for plats, I think its a reasonable question to ask whether the infrastructure is good enough to handle the massive increase in demand this change will bring. What chance, come February, we will see complaints from plats reporting their free internet benefit has been degraded ?

My guess on SPG Resort properties is that you will receive a discount on the daily resort fee. Your front desk encounter will go something like this....Since you are an honored Gold member we have reduced our $25 daily resort fee by $10 to $15. I have encountered this already and I think an extreme amount of research by starwood went into this technique. Prior I would hear gripes about resort fees at front desk. But when I have heard this speech by a front desk employee I have never heard a complaint. An ingenious move by SPG imho to extract more $ from guests

Quick question for the Lurkers (or anyone who may know the answer). Currently, Platinums receive free internet regardless of the channel of booking. Does the change mean that going forward, Platinums will have to book all of their stays through the SPG website or App to receive the free internet? Or will Platinums still receive free internet regardless of the booking channel.

If so, this is quite the benefit devaluation for those (like me) who have to book all of our corporate travel through our Corporate Travel Agency to be eligible for expense reimbursement.

Another question for a lurker. I have an upcoming stay to book at www.starwoodmeeting.com. Is this digital channel included in the promotion? I did not see it listed in the T & C's.

Thanks!