Guests who choose not to join the Club Carlson program (the new program that is replacing goldpoints plus) may be required to start paying $10 a day to access the Internet. Carlson CEO Hubert Joly told reporters at Carlson’s annual conference that guests who do not sign up for the loyalty program will be charged for Internet access. USA Today reports that Joly said, “If someone doesn’t want to become a member, they’re going to have to pay (for Internet).” Guests at Radisson hotels aren’t currently charged for Internet and it’s expected that each individual hotel will be able to decide whether to charge members who don’t participate in Club Carlson.

Bottom line: While we don’t like the introduction of Internet fees for non-members, membership in the program is free and unlike Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott who only offer free Internet to elite members, Club Carlson will offer complimentary Internet to all members, elite or not.