As part of the company's continued efforts to evolve the guest experience by listening and responding to guest needs, Hyatt Hotels Corporation will offer free Wi-Fi at all Hyatt hotels worldwide from February 2015, providing connectivity and convenience regardless of booking method or loyalty programme participation.
Guests will be able to access free Wi-Fi on an unlimited number of mobile devices or laptops in Hyatt-branded hotel guest rooms and social spaces, the company said.
According to the Expedia Mobile Survey 2014:
- 62% Indian travellers say Wi-Fi availability or pricing (like free Wi-Fi versus not having to pay for Wi-Fi) impacts their purchase decisions when searching for and booking flights or hotels
- 43% say complimentary Wi-Fi in guest rooms and public areas is very important when they book a hotel for personal travel
"Internet connectivity is no longer an amenity. It has become an integral part of travellers' daily lives and a basic expectation," said Kristine Rose, VP of brands for Hyatt. "Travellers shouldn't have to remember which brands or locations offer it for free or the strings attached to get it."
Hyatt hotels across many brands have long offered Wi-Fi at no charge to guests in several of its brands and to elite members of the Hyatt Gold Passport loyalty programme. Expanding free Wi-Fi is part of Hyatt's ongoing focus to make the guest experience more seamless.
"Our colleagues are committed to not just listening to what our guests say, but understanding their real needs. This practice has already brought us new ways to make a guest's stay more personal and seamless, from expedited check-in methods to easier ways for guests to make requests," Rose said. "Today, people consider smartphones just as important as their car and more important than television or coffee.* Travellers feel out of sync with their lives when they can't freely connect. Giving free Wi-Fi without a catch will enable us to continue innovating the guest experience to help people be more productive and stay better connected to colleagues, friends and family."
Where available, Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond and Platinum tier members will receive a complimentary upgrade to premium Wi-Fi service.
*Braun Research on behalf of Bank of America, June 2014.
