FlyerTalk Forums

FlyerTalk Forums (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/index.php)
-   Starwood | Starwood Preferred Guest (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-starwood-preferred-guest-429/)
-   -   Complimentary Internet for members who book through Starwood sites or on the SPG app (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-starwood-preferred-guest/1637999-complimentary-internet-members-who-book-through-starwood-sites-spg-app.html)

Starwood Lurker IV Dec 17, 2014 6:50 am

Complimentary Internet for members who book through Starwood sites or on the SPG app
 
SPG is happy to announce that all SPG members who book through Starwood’s digital channels will be offered free standard in-room Internet access during their stay at all SPG participating hotels worldwide. This benefit is in addition to earning Starpoints and getting our Best Rate Guarantee when booking through Starwood channels.

Beginning February 2, 2015, free in-room Internet access will be available to SPG members who book their hotel stays through Starwood’s many digital channels including: spg.com, Starwoodhotels.com, brand websites, mobile sites, the SPG app or through a travel professional, who books on spg.com. Here is how it breaks down for each tier:

  • Preferred members will receive standard in-room Internet access and have the ability to upgrade to the highest tier of internet, where available, for an incremental charge.
  • Gold members will receive the highest level of Internet access available as well as a welcome gift choice of Starpoints or complimentary beverage.
  • Platinum members currently receive the highest level of in-room Internet access.

Visit spg.com/internet for more information on receiving in-room Internet access for your next stay or a stay booked on behalf of your clients.

Best regards,

Christopher Carman
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Oxon Flyer Dec 17, 2014 7:06 am

Thanks for posting. ^

For clarification,


Originally Posted by Starwood Lurker IV (Post 24011019)

says


SPG Apps. For iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ and Windows Phone.

but the FAQ says :


SPG Apps (both iPhone and Android versions).
whereas the T&Cs say :

An “SPG App” is a downloadable application operated by or on behalf of Starwood in connection with the SPG Program including, without limitation, the iPhone and Android versions thereof.
Is the Windows App included or not ?

margarita girl Dec 17, 2014 7:14 am

What's my alternate amenity as a Platinum? LOL, just kidding! Good news for Gold members.

mahasamatman Dec 17, 2014 7:37 am

One less reason to go for Platinum...

sfozrhfco Dec 17, 2014 7:46 am


Originally Posted by mahasamatman (Post 24011245)
One less reason to go for Platinum...

Not necessarily. At some properties the standard internet is pretty slow and getting the fastest version would be a definite benefit.

fmcfad01 Dec 17, 2014 7:56 am

The idea of paying $10+ for incredibly slow internet access in 2014/2015 is ridiculous. It's gratis almost everywhere these days. So I guess this is a good move to save a little face with customers.

The idea of having slow (unusable) and premium (barely useful) tiers of for charge wifi service is equally laughable these days. More often than not I'll use wifi tether through my personal cell phone because it's faster than even the premium tier of hotel wifi.

Heck, while they're at it, can you get rid of the splash page where you have to agree to the terms and conditions of internet access? No one reads that and it's just an additional, sometimes frustrating, step before you get online and go about your business. NO ONE likes that step.

Starwood Lurker IV Dec 17, 2014 8:36 am


Originally Posted by Oxon Flyer (Post 24011083)
Is the Windows App included or not ?

Thank you for pointing that out. Yes, eligible reservations booked through the Windows App would qualify to receive internet.

Best regards,

Christopher Carman
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

drewp123 Dec 17, 2014 8:40 am

Good move. Doesn't help me as a Plat, but follows in Marriott's footsteps.

I imagine SPG, too, will upset travel agents.

ENIAC Dec 17, 2014 8:59 am

Well, that's better than Hilton -- it just limited the free elite internet to a throttled tier that can barely cope with web browsing and doesn't handle Skype, streaming video, or VPNs. $5 upcharge for the usable kind. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...e-benefit.html

I didn't know that "Platinum members currently receive the highest level of in-room Internet access." I sometimes picked the basic one to avoid potential arguments at checkout.

DC777Fan Dec 17, 2014 9:24 am


Originally Posted by mahasamatman (Post 24011245)
One less reason to go for Platinum...

Internet is probably the least valuable platinum amenity for us. We can just hotspot with our phones for (usually faster) internet and often do if we need it to be fast. The reason I want to be platinum is for upgrades and breakfast at resort/vacation stays.

reuthermonkey Dec 17, 2014 9:49 am


Originally Posted by DC777Fan (Post 24011870)
Internet is probably the least valuable platinum amenity for us. We can just hotspot with our phones for (usually faster) internet and often do if we need it to be fast. The reason I want to be platinum is for upgrades and breakfast at resort/vacation stays.

I tethered my roku streaming stick to my phone at my last stay, and it burned through my 5GB tethering allotment in 3 hours. Not smart. For the next 13 days of my stay, I tethered the Roku stick to my laptop which was physically plugged in to the ethernet port. Worked great.

That said, my beef is with properties (like my last stay at an aloft) which have only a single tier. In this particular case, service used to be uncapped, so i'd get 25-40mbps in the past. This time, it was capped at 3mbps with no upgradeable speeds. It was enough for lower-quality netflix, but according to the FCC, 3mbps does not even qualify as broadband, and has not technically qualified as broadband since 2011.

So, I'm curious what SPG plans to do for properties which choose to cut out their higher-speed tier(s) and keep everyone on the lowest possible speeds. While I feel that all SPG members should have basic free wifi, as a Plat and if I were a Gold I definitely feel like it wouldn't hurt to guarantee that if this is a benefit, that all properties have an upgraded tier for Golds and Plats...

jt.08 Dec 17, 2014 10:02 am

Good to see. I'm new to Starwood program and to be honest this was one thing that sways my decisions. Having to pay for internet for whatever reason when staying somewhere bothers me and I mainly avoid it. It's 2014 not 2000 anymore. This was actually weighing in on a trip I was booking for Jan and I was thinking of passing up Starwood because while personal trip I may need to get some work done and slow internet (unreliable) and paying can be a pain. While I see this doesn't change till Feb maybe it will encourage me to stay more in the future

ExpatSomchai Dec 17, 2014 10:03 am

Great news. Thank you SPG

controller1 Dec 17, 2014 10:32 am


Originally Posted by mahasamatman (Post 24011245)
One less reason to go for Platinum...


Originally Posted by sfozrhfco (Post 24011300)
Not necessarily. At some properties the standard internet is pretty slow and getting the fastest version would be a definite benefit.

sfozrhfco you haven't read what Starwood Lurker IV said. mahasamatman is correct in that getting the fastest version of internet is one less reason to go for Platinum because


Originally Posted by Starwood Lurker IV (Post 24011019)
. . .
  • Preferred members will receive standard in-room Internet access and have the ability to upgrade to the highest tier of internet, where available, for an incremental charge.
  • Gold members will receive the highest level of Internet access available as well as a welcome gift choice of Starpoints or complimentary beverage.
  • Platinum members currently receive the highest level of in-room Internet access.

. . .


tattikat2 Dec 17, 2014 10:33 am

Starwood Lurkers,

How is this new benefit handled at a resort when a resort fee that lists "daily internet access in room" as one of the services is being paid for?

Sincerely,


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:15 am.


This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.