Want free Internet while staying at a hotel? Chances are you might be able to, but since nothing in life is truly free, the "free" Internet comes with a catch.
The world's largest hotel company, U.K.-based Intercontinental Hotel Group, which owns big brands such as Holiday Inn, Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza hotels, said they will provide free Internet to guests at their 4,600 IHG hotels in more than 100 countries if guests joining their new loyalty reward program called IHG Rewards Club, the Los Angeles Times reports.
In order to join this club, members must provide personal information like an e-mail of business or home address which may be shared with third-party businesses.
This offer starts in July for those who are elite reward members. All other members will be able to access these rewards in 2014.
"In today's fast-paced world, we know that travelers need to stay connected and free Internet access is increasingly important," said Richard Solomons, IHG's chief executive, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Internet access is very important to hotel guests according to hotel officials who cited survey. In a recent IHG survey, 43 percent of adults said they wouldn't even stay in a hotel that charged for Internet access. Also, 23 percent of those polled said free Internet is the most important amenity in a hotel. The survey was given online and included the responses from 8,300 adults from multiple countries.
While many hotels already offer free Wi-Fi as travelers are finding it to be a necessity, it can also be a dangerous thing. Some tech-savvy thieves are using hotel Internet to trick people and steal their personal information like credit card numbers. These Internet thieves create fake Wi-Fi ports while staying in or near the hotel. Guests then connect to these hotspots, thinking that they're a real free Internet connection. Once they connect, the thieves can see everything the guest does, meaning they could possibly obtain their personal and financial information.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
