Some hotels serve up free phone calls

An increasing number of hotels provide free local calls, and some provide free long-distance calls within the USA. That's a big switch for many hotel chains that profited from charging guests to use the hotel's land-line phones before cellphones and Internet communication became widespread.

Revenue from telephone charges at Red Lion Hotels, for example, dropped more than 75% in the past four years.

Only about 3% of Red Lion guests incur telephone charges, says Julie Langenheim, a spokeswoman for the chain based in Spokane, Wash. About half of Red Lion's 45 U.S. hotels offer free local calls, she says.

USA TODAY surveyed 82 hotel brands and found that about 70% offer free local calls in at least some hotels. Nearly half offer free local calls in all hotels.

Fifteen hotel brands provide free long-distance calls in at least some hotels. Red Roof provides free long-distance calls only in some high-priced rooms. Two budget chains, Microtel and Shilo Inns, offer free long-distance calls and free in-room Internet access at all hotels.

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Source - USATODAY

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