Skip to main content

Marriott finally realizes blocking guest Wi-Fi hotspots is a bad idea

Marriottheadquarters
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Giving up on forcing guests to pay for Wi-Fi access within conference and convention areas of the hotel chain, Marriott has officially announced that all locations will no longer block guests from using personal Wi-Fi hotspots. Detailed within a press release on the Marriott News Center, the company highlighted security concerns related to the use of Wi-Fi hotspots as related to business users.

Specifically, a representative for Marriott wrote “We will continue to look to the FCC to clarify appropriate security measures network operators can take to protect customer data, and will continue to work with the industry and others to find appropriate market solutions that do not involve the blocking of Wi-Fi devices.”

Last year, the Federal Communications Commission fined Marriott $600,000 for forcing attendees of a conference into using the hotel chain’s Wi-Fi connection at the Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. According to complaints from attendees, Marriott required exhibitors to pay $250 to $1000 per device in order to connect to the Wi-Fi network at the resort. Alternatively, most personal hotspots cost approximately $25 to $100 and require a monthly service charge for data from companies like Verizon and AT&T.

Marriott’s argument against guests using personal hotspots within the resort area was specifically related to the potential for cyberattacks against the chain’s Wi-Fi network as well as the possibility that hotel’s Internet service could be disrupted. Hypothetically, if the FCC had ruled in the company’s favor, Marriott may have attempted to extend hotspot blocking into guest rooms in order to force guests into spending $15 to $20 per day for Internet access.

Speaking about the decision to fine Marriott more than half a million dollars, FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc saidConsumers who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal Internet connection will be blocked by their hotel or conference center. It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel’s own Wi-Fi network. This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether.”

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Flacy
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
Get this Asus laptop with a year of Microsoft Office for $199
asus vivobook go laptop deal amazon march 2024 lifestyle

You don't need to spend several hundreds of dollars on a new laptop that you'll use as a productivity tool because there are budget-friendly options like the Asus Vivobook Go L510MA. It's actually currently even cheaper from Walmart after an $80 discount, which brings its price down to just $199 from $279 originally. There's no telling how much time is remaining before the offer expires though, so if you want to take advantage of it, you're going to have to proceed with the purchase as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the Asus Vivobook Go L510MA
For a laptop that will be able to handle basic activities like doing online research, building reports, and browsing social media, you can't go wrong with the Asus Vivobook Go L510MA. It's equipped with the Intel Pentium Silver N5030 processor and 4GB of RAM, which are a far cry from the specifications of the best laptops, but it will be enough for simple tasks. The device also comes with a 15.6-inch screen with Full HD resolution, which is pretty large and sharp for its price, but it's still portable as it only weights about 3.5 pounds with a thickness of just 0.72 of an inch.

Read more
These are the 10 best gaming PCs I’d recommend to anyone
Graphics card in the CLX Hathor PC.

We review dozens of gaming PCs each year. In 2024, there are a ton of great options, but we've narrowed them down to a list of the 10 best gaming desktops that deserve your hard-earned money.

In 2024, we still recommend the Alienware Aurora R16 because of its fantastic design, solid performance, and decent value. However, there are several other options depending on your needs and budget. If you want a deeper look into how we evaluate gaming PCs, make sure to read about how we review desktops.

Read more
Samsung’s crazy 57-inch curved 4K monitor is $700 off today
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57-inch mini-LED gaming monitor placed on a desk.

Your investment in gaming PC deals will  go to waste if you don't upgrade your screen, and if you're willing to splurge for the best possible gaming experience, you'll want to go for the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor. It's pretty expensive at its original price of $2,500, so you're going to want to take advantage of any discounts that are available. Fortunately, Samsung has slashed its price by $700 so it's down to $1,800 -- it's still not cheap, but once you're playing your favorite games on this monitor, you'll quickly understand why it's worth every single penny.

Why you should buy the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor features a 57-inch screen with dual 4K Ultra HD resolution and a 1000R curvature, so it will fully immerse you in the worlds of the video games that you play with its lifelike details and vivid colors. It also supports HDR 1000 for better visual accuracy, and it uses Quantum Matrix technology for controlled brightness and improved contrast.

Read more