Travelore News: Hyatt Launches Free Wi-Fi To All Guests Worldwide

 

Effective February 14, 2015, all Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide will provide free Wi-Fi to guests independent of booking method or loyalty program participation. This industry-leading offer will be available to guests on an unlimited number of mobile devices or laptops in guest rooms and social spaces at Hyatt-branded hotels.

“We continue to evolve our offerings by listening to our guests, and for Hyatt, it didn’t feel natural to put barriers around something travelers view as an essential part of their hotel stay,” said Kristine Rose, vice president of brands, Hyatt. “More than 500 Hyatt-branded hotels and resorts worldwide are excited to now provide Wi-Fi free of charge in guestrooms and social spaces, no strings attached.”

Platinum and Diamond Hyatt Gold Passport members will receive a free upgrade to premium Wi-Fi service in those spaces wherever available, and guests will have the option to purchase premium service in those locations. Nearly 90 percent of Hyatt hotels around the world have made investments in their networks in the past three years.

“Staying connected through technology is a critical part of productivity and keeping in touch with loved ones, especially while away traveling,” Rose said. “With free Wi-Fi for all guests at all Hyatt hotels and resorts, guests can worry less about their Internet connections and focus on the things that matter most.”

The sign-on process to access free Wi-Fi will vary by property. While free Wi-Fi is available in guest rooms and social spaces such as lobbies and Hyatt-operated restaurants, it does not extend to meeting rooms, where bandwidth demand varies by the number of event attendees. Hotels will continue to work with organizers individually to procure appropriate support for an optimal experience.

8 Travel Trends We Hope To See More Of This Year (And Beyond)

 

Flickr/Andres Nieto Porras

2014 was a great year for travel. From the introduction of more budget airlines in the U.S. to new hotel loyalty programs, a ton of trends are giving travelers more choices and better prices. Here are our favorites that we hope to see more of, this year and beyond.

1. Budget Carriers (That Aren't Spirit Airlines)
WOW Air recently rocked the Internet with unbelievable, under-$300 round-trip flights between Boston and Iceland — a rock-bottom price. More flights from Baltimore and Washington, D.C. will be added seasonally starting this summer, and if all goes well, we can expect more cheap flights from other American hubs. We were also excited when Norwegian Air Shuttle launched a route between NYC and London last July — the first budget carrier to do so in 37 years — with round-trip rates up to $400 less than those on the major carriers. Of course, these types of airlines are best suited to travelers who don’t require any frills, but more options can only mean better prices for consumers.

2. Cheap Dallas
Speaking of airfare, can you believe that it used to cost less to fly round-trip from New York City to places like Phoenix, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas than to Dallas? That finally changed this fall, when Southwest Airlines and Virgin Airlines both brought a whole host of flights to and from either U.S. coast, as well as Denver and Chicago. Pro tip: In general, prices drop whenever Southwest and JetBlue add new routes — that’s where the terms “Southwest effect” and “JetBlue effect” come from.

3. Free, Open WiFi
Setting aside Marriott’s embarrassing, major mistake of blocking personal WiFi, the travel industry is starting to come to terms with how important free and open WiFi is to their customers. Major hotel chains now offer free WiFi to either all guests or members of their loyalty programs, most of which are free to join — including Kimpton, IHG, Hyatt, Starwood, and, yes, Marriott. In fact, hotelwifitest said just a week ago that 85 percent of U.S. hotels offer free wifi. (Speed is a different matter, since many brands do differentiate between basic, free internet and premium-speed paid internet.) Up in the skies, JetBlue takes the cake for being the only American carrier to provide free (basic) connectivity, at least for 2015, if not beyond.

4. Car Sharing
Uber has experienced its fair share of woes as it aggressively expanded last year, but we’re going to go back to the assumption that more competition means more and better choices for travelers. These car-sharing services have meant cheaper prices (surge hours aside), easier hailing, and easier payment for those in need of a ride. Of course, Uber isn’t the only one out there. Lyft has been trying to take them head on, and Sidecar is another one to watch. And even if they don’t drop their prices, perhaps local taxi commissions will take a leaf from the car sharing book and incorporate more convenient technology into the hailing process — which black car companies are starting to do.

5. Brand-Agnostic Loyalty Programs
If it’s difficult to rack up those airline miles, it can be even harder for leisure travelers to accumulate hotel points — especially for those who prefer boutique hotels, independent properties, and inns. Enter programs like Expedia+ Rewards, the less-than-two-year-old iPrefer, and Stash Hotel Rewards. These all allow travelers to earn points at hotels beyond the big chains, enjoy extra perks, and redeem award stays more quickly.

6. Longer Airfare Price-Holding
Want more time for price comparison and shopping around than the 24 hours mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation? You have more options than ever. Just this fall, British Airways started allowing travelers to lock in your price at 72 hours for $10, and other airlines like United and Virgin Atlantic offer similar services for holds up to seven days. There are also independent websites like Options Away, a start-up that lets you lock in a prices between two and 14 days. Of course, there’s no guarantee that prices will drop when you purchase these holds, but the fees are often insignificant enough that it’s worth the potential bet on saving one or two hundred dollars at some point.

7. Swanky HostelsThe definition of luxury is changing, and, we think, for the better. A ton of chic hostels that are looking more and more like affordable boutique hotels are showing that it’s now about how an experience feels, not just how much it costs. Saving big, making new friends, and still enjoying your privacy — what’s not to love about staying at a hostel as a grown-up?

8. Rental Apartments…Managed by Hotel Chains
We all know and love vacation rentals from Airbnb, HomeAway, and the like. You get more space, bigger savings, and a better feel for the local lifestyle. Also cool? Souped up versions managed by hotel chains, through which guests can access extra services like housekeeping and concierge support. The reservations process also more resembles traditional hotel bookings, for less confusion, and you know who to go to in the even that you need troubleshooting. We’ll say it again: Hooray for more choices.

- See more at: http://blog.shermanstravel.com/2015/8-travel-trends-we-hope-to-see-more-of-this-year-and-beyond/#sthash.27FmVnsn.dpuf

Contributed by Christine Wei

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport

Travelore News: Hotels Make Internet Free But Tighten Cancellation Policies

Big changes are coming in 2015 for hotel guests, one will save travelers lots of money and another may cause a few headaches.

First, the good news: The big chains, those mega-hotels that cater to business travelers during the week, are finally following suit of the budget, side-of-the-road properties and offering free Wi-Fi.

And the bad news: Starting Jan. 1 two of the largest hotel chains in the world are making it harder for travelers to cancel reservations.

PRO: FREE WI-FI

Among the expected changes, free access to the Internet will affect the most guests. Possible savings of $10 to $15 a night, can really add up over a week long vacation. But there are a few strings attached. The majority of chains will require guests to sign up for their free loyalty programs. Basically, if you share a little more personal information, they'll let you surf the Web for free.

At the beginning of 2014, InterContinental Hotels Group, the parent company of Holiday Inn, became the first major chain to offer free Internet to all members of its loyalty program. That's a benefit that had been generally limited to frequent guests who have elite status.

None of the competition followed until a few weeks ago when Marriott International announced that all members of its rewards program would get free, basic Wi-Fi starting Jan. 15 as long as they booked directly with the company. Elite members of Marriott Rewards will continue to get a faster, premium Internet service for free.

The move is part of a long-term push by hotels to get guests to book through their own websites and call centers instead of services like Orbitz and Expedia, to which they have to pay commissions.

When Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide followed suit, it too had a similar change: free Internet starting Feb. 2 for anybody booking directly; complimentary premium service for elite members.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. was the next big chain to offer free Internet. But unlike the others, its product will be free staring in February no matter what. Guests won't have to sign up for a club and can book through any channel they wish.

"Internet connectivity is no longer an amenity. It has become an integral part of travelers' daily lives and a basic expectation," Kristine Rose, vice president of brands for Hyatt said in a statement. "Travelers shouldn't have to remember which brands or locations offer it for free or the strings attached to get it."

Hilton Worldwide remains the biggest chain not to offer free Internet at all its properties.

The savings can be substantial. For instance, the San Francisco Marriott Marquis charges $14.95 a night for Internet; the Sheraton Atlanta, $12.95 a night; and the Hyatt Regency Chicago charges anywhere from $9.95 to $39.95 a night, depending on the connection speed.

CON: TOUGHER CANCELLATION POLICIES

Not all of the expected changes will be good for travelers in 2015.

Hilton and Marriott are rolling out new cancellation policies, forcing guests to abandon plans earlier on. Many hotels currently allow guests to cancel as late as 6 p.m. on the night of arrival. That's about to change.

Both hotel chains will, as of Jan. 1, require guests to cancel by midnight the day before they arrive in order to avoid a cancellation fee, typically equal to one night's room rate. Hilton and Marriott both justified the change saying it will make more rooms available for travelers needing last-minute accommodations.

Some travelers have been making reservations long in advance for stays, but then use last-minute deal apps from HotelTonight, Priceline and others to book cheap rooms hours before checking in and then cancel the original reservation. Hotels feel undercut and are left with unused rooms. This change, while not great for deal seekers, will help the hotels better manage inventory.

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Contributed by Scott Mayerowitz, AP.

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport

Take A Peek Inside The New Virgin Hotels

Hotel Launches Official Website and Animated Video Showcasing Hotel Offerings

Looking to get a peek inside Virgin Hotels? Today, the four-star lifestyle

 brand launches its website and introduces, in true Virgin fashion, a fun animated video, highlighting traveler pain

 points and demonstrating in stark contrast the ways Virgin Hotels will eliminate those frustrations. 

Guests can now make reservations at virginhotels.com for stays starting January 15, 2015. The website uses

 responsive web design, creating an optimal user experience that's interactive, content rich and sparks curiosity.

 Whether guests are browsing the website using their desktop, smart phone or tablet, the site is tailored to the

 device, making all the

 important information easy to reach. 

"Our goal in the creation of Virgin Hotel's website was to clearly differentiate the entire experience from what

 typical hotel websites have been offering up, while also improving upon ease of use," said Doug Carrillo, vice

 president of sales & marketing for Virgin Hotels. "Guests will no longer have to sift through unnecessary or

 irrelevant information. The site will show exactly what guests want to know and helps them find it effortlessly."

Virgin Hotels takes viewers on a playful and humorous journey, illustrating guest obstacles and how the new

 hotel brand will lead the charge by putting guests' comfort, productivity, pockets and needs as top priority. 

Through the video, guests will learn about some of the resolutions Virgin Hotels is bringing to the market,

 including:

• An end to 'nickel and diming.' Free Wi-Fi with no bandwidth restrictions, street level minibar pricing and
•  no hidden fees at check-out
• A pied-a-terre style room that's divided into two chambers allowing for maximum privacy and function
• An app* that controls the room environment, entertainment, service and check-in/out
• Chamber amenities that cater to the female business traveler

"The video goes beyond just a tour of the two chamber concept, it's our anthem for rebellion in the name of the 

guest," said Carrillo. "For too long, guests have put up with hidden or absurd fees for common services,

 outrageous minibar prices and slow Wi-Fi at ridiculous prices. And they've settled for a room that's focused on

 form, rather than function. Virgin Hotels is here to change that and set a new standard."

Virgin Hotels Chicago will be located in the heart of Chicago's Loop district in the historic Old Dearborn Bank

 Building at 203 N. Wabash Avenue. The 27-story Art Deco building, a Chicago landmark designed by C.W. and 

George L. Rapp Architects in 1928, will offer 250 guest rooms, 40 one-bedroom suites and two rock star suites.

 Additionally, the hotel will feature meeting spaces, restaurants, lounges and other public areas that reflect the

 Virgin brand's stylish and functional legacy. 

*The mobile app is slated to launch in late fall of 2014 and will put guests in the captain's chair using their

 personal mobile. Guests will have access via their mobile device to check-in and out of the hotel, order room

 service, control the TV and room setting, plus much more.

ABOUT VIRGIN HOTELS:
Virgin Hotels is a lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt service, straightforward value and a seamless,

 personalized hotel experience with the track record of innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's

 global Virgin Group has pioneered for over 40 years. Each property will intermix a passion for food and beverage

 with music and culture, fusing with the local landscape and providing a vibrant and inclusive environment for

 travelers and locals alike. Chicago will open in December 2014, with New York, Nashville and others to follow.

 For more information, please visit www.virginhotels.com.

Stay connected on all the latest news by following Virgin Hotels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and

 more.

Related Link
http://youtu.be/Qk-iGjyTTSU

Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/150840-VH_Unbrilliant.mp4