I am happily ensconced this morning at that beautiful Villa Pinciana not far from the Roman steps in Roma, Italy. Besides the beauty of this location and this hotel, one other thing is likely to stand out for American travelers not just at this but virtually all hotels in this country: free wifi. As many of you know, I have long complained about the practice of high-end hotels charging ridiculous fees for wifi while cheaper hotels (and countless coffee shops, restaurants, and other establishments) offer it for free.(Here and here and here) It is an open gouging of business travelers but these hotels which are charging hundreds of a night only to demand that guests pay them for something free on the street. Now there is a small victory against the corporate greed of high-end hotels. Marriott has agreed to pay a $600,000 fine after the Federal Communications Commission found the company blocked consumer Wi-Fi networks last year during an event at a hotel and conference center in Nashville. Of course, nothing changes in Marriott ripping off guests for wifi generally, but they stand to do the electronic version of poisoning wells to force travelers to drink at their well.
It turns out that Marriott was charging exhibitors and others as much as $1,000 per device to access the hotel’s wireless network while blocking their Wi-Fi access. The way Marriott sabotaged its own guests was by using “containment features of a Wi-Fi monitoring system” at the hotel to prevent people from accessing their own personal Wi-Fi networks. The hotel was forced to agree to stop the practice at all of its properties, not just the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville. I would love to know who busted the hotel. In March 2013, someone sent the FCC a complaint that the hotel was “jamming mobile hot spots so that you can’t use them in the convention space.”
Marriott however agreed to the settlement but still insists that it was acting entirely appropriately: “Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hot spots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft.” Wow, forcing people to pay $1,000 a device was Marriott way of protecting people from unscrupulous actors.
Here is the FCC press release.
What continues to amaze me is that high-end American hotels continue to rip off travelers when most of the market offer free wi-fi as a basic feature for guests. It turns out that Marriott is only “Your home away from home” if you come from an incredibly abusive and usurious family.
Source: CNN
$1,000/device! Blocking their customers’ own WiFi networks! Sounds like highway robbery to me.
People should vote with their dollars.
This reminds me of airlines that post rates that appear to be a good deal, only to add charges to the ticket, like for checked bags.
Oh miss Squeeky! Brava, brava! I gotta big crush on you. Don’t tell my wife.
@PaulCS
Well, it’s not me who is missing and doing it. I have just been busy with other stuff. I wonder if the customers have a private right of action against Marriott??? I wonder if anybody is going to boycott them??? Anyway, here is an Irish Poem!
Block Party???
An Irish Poem by Squeeky Fromm
There once was a guy at the Mariott,
Who couldn’t connect to his wifi-spot.
The greedy a$$ finks
Had blocked off the links!
Sooo, maybe we shouldn’t stay there a lot???
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
@ Nick.
We stay quite often at La Quinta. Racking up points for a free weekend. They do have pet friendly rooms/or floors. We don’t stay in the pet designated rooms….just cuz. We have never been bothered by the animals though.
I was most impressed with a couple who were in the elevator with my husband and myself. They had a cat in a carrier who was very calm and collected. We own 2 cats and I cannot imagine traveling with a cat. What about the litter box? eeeewwwww. Our cats would freak OUT!!!
SWM – there are two names that come to the top of the list, both female. Now which of those would attack Nick? Only one.
One of the ironies is that budget motels ALL provide free internet. Some chains find their niche. I learned when I drove out to San Diego w/ our Golden Retriever, the last year of his life, that all LaQuinta motels not only allow dogs, they welcome them. They even give you a dog biscuit along w/ cookies when you check in. That stuck w/ me and I’ll often stay in a LaQuinta sans dog, because of that positive experience.
Nick – I have to agree about LaQuinta. I have stayed there and they do treat you well.
SWM – Look through today’s postings and ask yourself whose name is missing. Who is a top poster who did not post today so far.
Nick – I do not stay on The Strip. They are some great places further out and you can drive in and park for anything you want on the Strip. Save money and get free wi-fi. 🙂
Paul S, Not sure it is she.
This paying for internet started in earnest during the recent recession. So did “resort fees” that are often not included in the advertising. As JT noted this past summer in Vegas, getting free internet in Vegas, @ least on The Strip, is impossible. Those places also charge resort fees, which includes internet, sometimes. It would be smart for a major chain to advertise we NEVER charge for internet and NEVER charge resort fees, and mean it. That would be a very successful ad campaign.
Yes, Miss Swarthmoremom, you are right. Do you think they will keep listening to him? I would love for once to see them break free, run, runaway, runnnnn Forrest, runnnn!
Someone is CWI.
I think it’s pretty childish to demand that Darren do your bidding. It was obvious that within hours of he taking over the administrative duties, some were attempting to manipulate him and make demands of him. Now I think we should all relax and have some fun and some good discussions.
Mr. Spumoni, I think he is telling his followers. I am not one.
DBQ and SWM, You are politically different people but you both are intelligent and thoughtful people. You are both smart enough to realize giving any attention to trolls is stupid. The intent of trolls is evil. Always avoid evil whenever possible.
Miss Swarthmoremom, is Mr. Spinelli is telling you what to do! Wow! I don’t even tell my wife what to do. I know better.
Dust Bunny, It has been off and on for the past two weeks. Oh well, I have had worse than that in the past. There have always been some pranksters here. Nothing new……….
Ms. Swarthmoremom,
I am sad to say you may be right. Double standards don’t sit well with the commentariat. Eventually it takes some creative poster to humorously point out the, obvious to most, inequities.
This troll SHOULD BE COMPLETELY IGNORED!!
Well,
Swarthmore. I was not a participant of this blog when that happened and I agree it is a trollish thing to do. It distracts from the purpose of the blog and creates chaos in the comment sections, derails serious discussions…..but….that is the point. Isn’t it. Destruct and chaos.
Do you think that bad behaviour excuses more bad behaviour? I don’t. It is like little children fighting and crying “she it me first!!!” wah wah wah. Childish, self centered and should not be put up with.
As Paul stated. This type of behaviour is not only destructive, it is completely disrespectful of the blog owner, blog administrator and those who wish to have adult conversations. I would have presumed you to be one of the latter.
The fairness posse is arriving. SWM, think for a moment. Is your name SWM? No, you are anonymous. I use my real name. BIG DIFFERENCE FOR CHRISSAKE!! What kind of cheese would you like w/ your $4 wine? A nice Cheez Whiz should pair well w/ it. I can’t believe you would flop this way. Incredible.