HotelChatter

Now here's where we have a problem: we are your average Marriott Rewards members, staying maybe ten nights at Marriott properties every year because we like to switch it up. Ten nights won't get us to Gold level (which requires at least 50 nights a year) and definitely not Platinum (at 75 or more nights a year), and we're getting to the point where we will refuse to stay at a hotel if it doesn't have free and fast WiFi. Under the new Marriott Rewards free wifi plan, we'd still be paying because we're not Gold, and that means we'd nix the idea of staying there.

This is where we realize the goal of the free wifi: to keep their current loyal guests happy. Marriott is not trying to attract new guests or keep the average traveler interested, even though they should be. They could at least lump Silver card members (staying at least 10 nights a year) into the program, but they aren't, and this portion of the FAQ is telling:

Will Marriott consider broadening this program to offer free Internet access to all Marriott Rewards members in the future?
There are no plans to broaden the program at this time.

And keep in mind that this free internet is only at US and Canada properties, markets where plenty of other hotels now offer free WiFi to all guests. This means nothing for international hotels like the Marriott Berlin, whose WiFi charges go up as high as $530! This whole free internet deal may have been a big step for Marriott, but they're still a billion steps behind. We are not impressed.

[Photo: HotelChatter]