IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) today announced that it’ll be providing free internet to all its 71m loyalty programme members, worldwide. The announcement comes as IHG reveals the result of a world online survey* which show that just about 1/2 adults (43%) would select to not stay in a hotel that charged for internet.
IHG is the primary and only hotel group to supply free internet in all hotels to all loyalty programme members, globally – whether or not they stay the night or are available in for a coffee or an impromptu meeting. It’ll benefit millions of guests globally as IHG has the foremost rooms and is in additional countries than any individual of the opposite four largest hotel companies on earth**. This would start from July 2013 for Elite members and extend to all members during 2014.
The move comes as IHG announces that it’s going to be enhancing and renaming its industry-leading loyalty programme Priority Club® Rewards as IHG Rewards Club in July and introducing a number of new benefits for members.
Richard Solomons, Chief Executive, IHG, said:
“In today’s fast-paced world, we all know that travellers must stay connected and free internet access is increasingly important. i’m proud that IHG is the 1st hotel company to supply free internet globally to all our loyalty programme members.
“2013 marks 10 years since IHG became a standalone company. Whilst we’re relatively young as a business, our brands, equivalent to Holiday Inn and InterContinental, have a deep history and a strong heritage and are instantly recognised by millions around the globe.
“Renaming our industry-leading loyalty programme as IHG Rewards Club might help our guests remember the fact that all our brands are a part of an identical IHG brand family.
“Whether it’s a business stop-over or a family holiday, our guests can pick from greater than 4,600 hotels in nearly 100 countries and territories, secure within the knowledge that every carries the IHG badge of responsibility, trust and confidence that they could depend upon.”
Internet access is increasingly important to hotel guests and a key consideration when planning their hotel stays. New research* commissioned by IHG reveals that:
* 43% of adults surveyed said that they might choose to not stay in a hotel that charged for internet.
* 23% of respondents said that free internet in rooms and through the hotel is the main amenity when staying in a hotel for business, in comparison with * 7% who chose room service.
* Travellers from China placed essentially the mostsome of the most importance on online connectivity – with nearly half (47%) listing it because the most crucial thing to them when staying in a hotel for business, followed by those from Russia (26%), the united states (23%) and India (22%).
* Travellers from the united kingdom (18%) and the U.S. (14%) both listed buying internet because the second most disturbing thing when staying at a hotel after noisy guests (22% and 24% respectively).
Globally, more female respondents (14%) say free internet during the hotel is major to them when staying for leisure, in comparison to 2% who listed having an in-room hairdryer.
IHG Rewards Club, formerly Priority Club Rewards, is the world’s first and biggest hotel loyalty programme, providing existing, industry-leading benefits including points that never expire, no blackout dates for Reward Nights, flight rewards, music downloads and free nights at any IHG hotel anywhere on earth.
From July, new benefits will include:
* free internet to all Elite status members from July 2013 and increasing to all members during 2014;
* the facility to earn Elite status faster by staying in three or more of IHG’s hotel brands;
* Reward Nights will count toward earning Elite status; and
* Platinum Elite members’ “extra” nights will roll over toward maintaining their status of their next membership year
Booking directly with IHG provides guests with access to the very best available rates through our ‘Best Price Guarantee’ and ensures they qualify to earn points for his or her IHG Rewards Club account.
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