"World First" claim coming up from InterContinental Hotel Group after revealing today that each of its properties around the world will be offering up free wifi to guests.
But before there is mass rejoicing around the world, there is a slight wrinkle to the initiative: the global hotel chain will make the free wifi available only to members of loyalty programme.
So-called Elite members of its IHG Rewards Club (previously known as its Priority Club Rewards programme) will take advantage of the free web juice from July this year, with the remaining members brought in over the course of 2014.
This will eventually equate to around 71 million members and almost 160 million guest nights year - a figure it says will mean the group is effectively web hosting a country bigger than Russia on an annual basis.
Supporting the announcement are results of a survey of 8,300 adults earlier this month in which 43% of respondents claimed they would not stay in a hotel unless it had free wifi.
Equally, almost a quarter (23%) said that free access to the internet in bedrooms and elsewhere around a property is the most important amenity when on a business trip.
Whether IHG's move will trigger a flurry of similar initiatives by its rivals as they follow suit and relax their own web charges is another thing entirely, especially as IHG has now won the PR battle and come out first.
Some might question, however, whether it is wise to limit the initiative to just the chain's loyalty club members. The reason that many travellers are members of a programme such as IHG Rewards Club is that they are, well, loyal and often become members automatically as part of a corporate travel policy.
Perhaps guests who are not members of a loyalty scheme, and therefore more discerning as to where they might choose to spend their money, are more likely to be wooed by the bounty of free wifi in a property?
Just a thought...
NB:Tablet hotel image via Shutterstock.