Exclusive Feature: Could the days of free hotel WiFi for all be near? 

Seems more hotels, including those in the luxury market, are finally conceding to consumer demands.

Earlier this year, Mandarin Oriental hotels made WiFi available for customers at some locations while Four Seasons Hotels offers free for everyone. Now, the Ritz-Carlton is giving guests a glimpse free Internet at its hotels.

Starting Jan. 15, Ritz-Carlton Reward members who book their stay directly through the hotel chain will enjoy free in-room WiFi for the duration of their stay.

This move isn't just to get on guests' good side, it's also a marketing move to ensure guests book directly with the brand, instead of going through OTAs or agencies for a room.

This isn't the first "free WiFi with..." program we've seen from hotels. Mandarin Oriental gives guests free WiFi for helping promote their brand on social media, for example.

The Paris hotel's “Selfie in Paris” campaign asked guests to photograph the city’s best landmarks during a customized three-hour guided tour, based on tips from the hotel's concierge and team.

The free WiFi from Mandarin Oriental was provided both in the guest rooms and the car, so guests could upload photos and tag Mandarin Oriental from anywhere in Paris.

This move by luxury hotels to offer free WiFi to guests is one that's been in the pipelines for a while. In most cases, the top-tier loyalty members (if the hotel has a loyalty program, like Ritz-Carlton) already had the benefit of free WiFi.

But, read any consumer report or travel insider piece about customer wants and top frustrations from hotels, and it's always WiFi at the top of the list.

What will be interesting to watch, however, is how hotels wrap WiFi into their offerings going into 2015. While most hotels have done this with promotions or special packages built around WiFi, the Ritz-Carlton's move to offer it for all loyalty members is a first.

In case you're curious, here's a list of the luxury hotels that currently offer free WiFi to guests:

• Aman Resorts 
• Anatara Hotels 
• Capella Hotels 
• Four Seasons Hotels (with restrictions)
• Jumeirah Hotels 
• Langham Hotels 
• Loews Hotels 
• Mandarin Oriental Hotels (with restrictions) 
• Montage Hotels 
• Peninsula Hotels 
• Regent Hotels 
• Shangri-La Hotels

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Melanie Nayer is a hotel reviewer and expert on luxury travel around the world. She has covered all aspects of hotels including corporate restructures, re-branding initiatives, historical aspects and the best of the best in luxury hotels around the world.

Melanie writes a weekly exclusive column for 4Hoteliers.com