Marriott 'Listens To Its Customers,' To Back off Blocking Wi-Fi Devices

"Marriott International listens to its customers, and we will not block guests from using their personal Wi-Fi devices at any of our managed hotels," the hotel chain issued a statement in the light of customers protests. The hotel chain will look for other methods to maintain Internet security on hotel properties.

The statement follows just three months after Marriott was hit with a $600, 000 fine for interfering with its own wireless networks. The hospitality chain was alleged for using "containment features of a Wi-Fi monitoring system at the Gaylord Opryland to prevent individuals from connecting to the Internet via their own personal Wi-Fi networks, while at the same time charging consumers, small businesses and exhibitors as much as $1,000 per device to access Marriott's Wi-Fi network," according to the Federal Communications Commission. The incident was reported in March 2013.

According to Marriott, personal devices capable of creating hot-spots create security issue. Hackers can connect to those networks and steal information, Marriott said.

Marriott will "continue to look to the FCC to clarify appropriate security measures network operators can take to protect customer data and will continue to work with the industry and others to find appropriate market solutions that do not involve the blocking of Wi-Fi devices," the company added in the statement.