the
company announced on Wednesday. As of Feb. 2, Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty
program members booking through Starwood's brand websites and mobile apps will
get free Internet access at "the majority of the portfolio," according
to Chris Austin, Starwood vice president of global leisure and luxury sales. The
move follows
a similar policy announced in October by Marriott. At the same
time, Starwood will make free Internet access an automatic perk for gold-level
SPG members regardless of their booking method. Additionally, agents in the
Starwood Preferred Guest Pro program who book through the Starwood Preferred Guest
website can procure free Internet access for their clients, according to
Starwood. The St. Regis brand also plans to make free Internet available brandwide
next year, Austin said.