MUMBAI: As part of the company's continued efforts to evolve the guest experience by listening and responding to guest needs, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced plans to offer free Wi-Fi at all Hyatt hotels worldwide, providing connectivity and convenience regardless of booking method or loyalty program participation.

Free Wi-Fi will become available to Hyatt guests around the world in February 2015. Travellers will be able to access free Wi-Fi on an unlimited number of mobile devices or laptops in Hyatt-branded hotel guest rooms and social spaces.

As a prime highlight supporting this initiation by Hyatt, the Expedia Mobile Survey 2014 quotes that:

- 62% Indian travellers say, Wi-Fi availability or pricing (like free Wi-Fi versus not having to pay for Wi-Fi) impacts their purchase decisions when searching for and booking flights or hotels 

- 43% Say complimentary Wi-Fi in guest rooms and public areas is very important when they book a hotel for personal travel 

According to the TripBarometer Mobile and Social survey:

- Indians (96 per cent) were not only ranked above the global average of 87 per cent for using mobile devices while on holiday, but they also bragged the most on social media about their trip 

- The study also shows that Indian travellers were more inclined than the average global travellers to use their smartphones to access social media and look for recommendations on-the-go

- According to the study, 61 per cent of travellers globally were also engaging heavily in social media during their holidays.

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

Hyatt hotels across many brands have long offered Wi-Fi at no charge to guests in several of its brands and to elite members of the Hyatt Gold Passport loyalty program. Expanding free Wi-Fi is part of Hyatt's ongoing focus to make the guest experience more seamless.

"Our colleagues are committed to not just listening to what our guests say, but understanding their real needs. This practice has already brought us new ways to make a guest's stay more personal and seamless, from expedited check-in methods to easier ways for guests to make requests," Rose said. "Today, people consider smartphones just as important as their car and more important than television or coffee.* Travellers feel out of sync with their lives when they can't freely connect. Giving free Wi-Fi without a catch will enable us to continue innovating the guest experience to help people be more productive and stay better connected to colleagues, friends and family."

Where available, Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond and Platinum tier members will receive a complimentary upgrade to premium Wi-Fi service.

The term "Hyatt" is used in this release to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation 

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company's subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences and vacation ownership properties, including under the Hyatt®, ParkHyatt®, Andaz®, GrandHyatt®, HyattRegency®, HyattPlace®, HyattHouse®, HyattZilara™, HyattZiva™, Hyatt Residences® and Hyatt Residence Club® brand names and have locations on six continents. As of September 30, 2014, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 573 properties in 48 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 

Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the rate and pace of economic recovery following economic downturns; levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate; if our third-party owners, franchisees or development partners are unable to access the capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth; changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets where we operate; our ability to access the capital markets; and other risks discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. 

*Braun Research on behalf of Bank of America, June 2014

Media Contact: Ritish Das Gupta, ritish.dasgupta@hkstrategies.com, +91-9870247298, Hyatt Hotels Corporation