Hilton HHonors - Garden Inn Breakfast w/ Gold

I just stayed last night at the Hilton Garden Inn in Windsor, CT and when I checked in I was told that breakfast was only for the gold member...not everyone in the room unless they are gold as well.

I brought a copy of the gold benefits and he interpreted it as all people in the room only if they cannot accomidate you on the towers level if a towers level exists...pointing out this first part

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At US Hilton hotels, and at Conrad and Doubletree hotels with Towers or Executive Levels, Gold VIPs will be provided with a guest room on the Towers or Executive Level floor, whenever possible. In cases when Towers or Executive Level accommodations have been fully booked, Gold VIP members will be offered either (1) the use of the Towers or Executive Level lounge, including complimentary continental breakfast each morning or (2) personalized certificates for each day of the stay for all occupants of the members room valid for complimentary continental breakfast in the hotel coffee shop or all-purpose restaurant.
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being different from the second part that applied to their hotel, since no tower level exists.
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At hotels without a Towers or Executive Level, Gold VIPs will receive complimentary continental breakfast each day of the stay. And in hotels at which a complimentary breakfast is a benefit for all guests, Gold VIPs will be offered a special amenity as an expression of our appreciation.
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His point was that on this second part which applied to them, that only the gold member woudl receive breakfast. This was the way their hotel always treated gold members. He was willing to call to verify, but then he decided to just go ahead and give it to me anyway. So I ended up with breakfast for everyone in the room, not just gold members.

But here's my question. What is correct for hotels without tower/exective level? All occupents of the members room or only gold members?

Adam

While the hotel's interpretation follows the letter of the terms exactly, I think it violates the spirit of what is meant. The writer of the rules was probably trying to be concise by not repeating the phase "for all occupants of the members room" over and over again. It doesn't really make sense to me for there to be different rules based on whether or not there is a tower. If that was what the rules really meant if should say "for the Gold VIP member only" in the without towers section.

I combat this lack of clarity by following the advice of someone in another thread here on FlyerTalk and having an HHonors "mutual fund" account, so both my wife and myself are golds.

My wife and I stayed at the HGI Fairfax, VA on Saturday, and we each had continental breakfast certificates waiting for us at arrival, upgradable to full breakfast for $2 each. We also each got a bottle of water. A very compliant hotel, with the water bonus, all on a $59 rate.

The HGI in Renton WA has the same interpretation -- breakfast only for Gold or Diamond members, and not for anyone else in the room who doesn't have Gold or Diamond status. They were pretty firm about it, too.

Can't reply as to multiple vouchers, but at the HGI Orlando-East they only give them to Platinums, nothing for Gold.

WestCoaster. My experience with Hilton Garden Inn Renton was different than yours. Checked in on my wife's gold card and got 2 free continental breakfast coupons for each of our nights spent. They did not ask me whether I was also gold, although I am. Got her the Gold to qualify for the 50k point bonus last year. They also gave us waters and cookies.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by opushomes:
WestCoaster. My experience with Hilton Garden Inn Renton was different than yours. Checked in on my wife's gold card and got 2 free continental breakfast coupons for each of our nights spent. They did not ask me whether I was also gold, although I am. Got her the Gold to qualify for the 50k point bonus last year. They also gave us waters and cookies.</font>

Thanks. May I ask when you were there? After my stay early this year I got an e-mail survey from HGI and I pointed out that the HGI Renton differed from other Hilton properties in the area by refusing to give breakfast to the other person in my room (I am Gold.)

Maybe they changed their policy before or after your stay, or maybe they knew somehow that you were Gold, or maybe their front desk folk are just inconsistent, or maybe they are even one of those properties that I very occasionally run across that only give free breakfast to your companion if the two of you are married.

Way too many maybes there...

(edited to fix typos and to add that the HGI Renton also wanted to know whether I was there for leisure or business, and my answer showed up on my bill by my name. I assume that the purpose of your stay doesn't affect their breakfast policy; the question just surprised me a bit.)

[This message has been edited by Westcoaster (edited 03-19-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Westcoaster:
The HGI in Renton WA has the same interpretation -- breakfast only for Gold or Diamond members, and not for anyone else in the room who doesn't have Gold or Diamond status. They were pretty firm about it, too. </font>

That was not my experience at the HGI Renton last July. I was given 2 HH Gold breakfast vouchers per day there without having to ask for the extra one for the 2nd person.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Westcoaster:
[B] Thanks. May I ask when you were there?

We stayed there during SEA-DO III was November 19-20, 2001.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by opushomes:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Westcoaster:
[B] Thanks. May I ask when you were there?

We stayed there during SEA-DO III was November 19-20, 2001.</font>

Hmm. I wonder if they've changed their policy since then. When I was there earlier this year I asked at check-in for a breakfast coupon for the other person in my room (the reservation was for 2 people and the packet they gave me only had 1 coupon in it) and the front desk clerk very clearly explained that their policy didn't allow her to do that. She seemed very certain.

If anyone else has stayed there in the last couple of months, please share what you found. Maybe I just got a misinformed check-in clerk.

At the Flagstaff HGI, my wife and I both had breakfast vouchers waiting for us. I am the gold card holder and they didn't even think twice about it. The even offered a third for my 18 month old daughter and then retracted and said, "I think she probably has a small enough appetite not to warrant needing these".

At the Palmer in Chicago, I've always gotten enough vouchers when the lounge is closed without even asking.

The one breakfast coupon seems to be fairly common at some HGIs got only one at check-in the New Orleans and Scottsdale properties when I produced my wifes Gold card the coupons (somewhat reluctantly at Scottsdale) was handed over.
Mike

As follow-up on the Renton HGI, I must give credit where 'tis due. After I filled out a post-stay e-mail survey, I got an e-mail from someone at the hotel explaining that their policy is indeed to give breakfast coupons to Golds and Diamonds for each person in their room. They have retrained their staff regarding this.

In addition, I was told that they have added a new amenity for Gold and Diamond members: a coupon for $5 off items from their Pavilion Pantry, which I believe stocks beverages and snacks. I'm assuming until someone tells me differently that this coupon is going to be offered only at the Renton HGI.