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Hotel group offers free internet to loyalty members
IHG will provide free internet to all 71 million loyalty programme members worldwide.
IHG says it is the first and only hotel group to offer free internet in all hotels to all loyalty programme members globally – "whether they stay the night or come in for a coffee or an impromptu meeting".
The free internet offer will start from July for Elite loyalty members and extend to all members in 2014.
"We know travellers need to stay connected, and free internet access is increasingly important," said IHG’s chief executive, Richard Solomons.
Research by YouGov commissioned by IHG reveals that:
– 43% of adults surveyed said they would choose not stay in a hotel that charged for internet.
– Among the countries surveyed, online connectivity throughout the hotel holds the highest significance for the Chinese when making hotel bookings for business (47%) or for leisure (13%), and 70% agreed they would choose not to stay in a hotel if it didn’t offer free internet
– 23% of respondents online said free internet in rooms and throughout the hotel is the most important amenity when staying in a hotel for business, compared to 7% who chose room service.
– Travellers from the UK (18%) and the US (14%) both listed paying for internet as the second most annoying thing when staying at a hotel, after noisy guests (22% and 24% respectively).
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