NEW YORK — Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees’ own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel’s own connection.
Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hot spots — tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cellphone towers. They can often avoid hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities.
Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tenn. — which is managed by Marriott — found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. The guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn’t affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms.
While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord’s Wi-Fi connection.
