Hilton HHonors - Complimentary breakfast confusion

Hi folks,

I know the complimentary breakfast has been discussed before, but I could not find any answers to the two specific questions I have:

As I am a brand new gold member, I am not accustomed to the benefits I get from the My Way choices. Yesterday, when checking in at Hilton Cologne, where I stay a lot these days, I had a chat with the receptionist about the free breakfast. She told me that I am only entitled to the free breakfast when I am upgraded to a better room. If not upgraded, no free breakfast either - that was what she told me. I just can't believe this. Can someone clarify this matter?

The second question arose when I talked to some sales lady today on the phone. As I usually stay at the hotel with a colleague and we both book a rate without breakfast, it is rather important that I am entitled to a free breakfast for me and for an additional registered hotel guest, not necessarily staying in the same room (what my colleague certainly does not). However, the sales lady told me that I would only get free breakfast for me and for another person staying in the same room with me. The t&c, as cited below, clearly state something different, if I understand them correctly. Can someone clarify this topic? The Hilton Cologne does not have any lounge, if that matters.

I'm actually wondering if it is me who is confused about the T&C, or is it the Hilton people?

Thanks,

Breston

T&C MyWay:

A space-available room upgrade, including breakfast.**
You will be upgraded to an Executive Floor room (where/when available) at time of check-in. If an Executive Floor room is unavailable, you will be upgraded to the next best available room from the room type booked. Upgrades exclude suites, villas and specialty accommodations. At hotels with Executive Floor lounges, if an Executive Floor room upgrade is available, you will also receive access to the lounge. In addition, you will receive complimentary Continental breakfast for you and up to one additional registered hotel guest each day of your stay.

**
If you are a Gold VIP, you'll be given access to the Executive Floor lounge when you receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor. If an Executive Floor room upgrade is unavailable, you'll still receive daily complimentary Continental breakfast in lieu of lounge access.

If you are a Diamond VIP, you'll enjoy access to the Executive Floor lounge, even if you don't receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor, including daily complimentary Continental breakfast.

At hotels without Executive Floor lounges, Gold and Diamond VIPs will receive complimentary Continental breakfast for themselves and up to one additional registered hotel guest each day. If breakfast is included in the room rate, you'll receive an alternate welcome amenity that varies by hotel.

You have THREE "My Way" choices, one of which is a room upgrade (if available) plus a continental breakfast. I suggest that you make sure that you have selected the room upgrade and breakfast as your choice.

Although, strictly speaking, the T&C provide for a breakfast for you and "one other registered guest" I personally think that you are stretching the intention of this provision, which I guess is to RESTRICT the number of breakfasts to TWO only. I think that you would not get much support for your interpretation of the T&C from the Customer Support people who enforce the rules.

Here's how it works at the hilton new york.

If you are gold, you can be upgraded, if available, to an executive floor room. With this comes access to the executive lounge for breakfast in the morning. If you are not upgraded, they provide gold members with a certificate to a free muffin and coffee at the star bucks.

If you are diamond, you get access to the executive lounge regardless if you get an upgrade. But they would be more than willing to offer you the certificates to star bucks if you prefer.

As for being allowed to bring someone else, i would say that if you both show up together at the lounge, and your access is legitimate, it wouldn't be a problem saying "He/She is with me" and they would let you both in.

Properties do tend to define the rules differently from time to time. Since I don't always know if someone will be travelling with me, I will usually book the room for two people (if there's no rate difference). If chits are given for drinks and/or breakfast, then I get two and I can use them as I need. Also getting two room keys will allow the other person access to the lounge when I'm not with them.

Although, strictly speaking, the T&C provide for a breakfast for you and "one other registered guest" I personally think that you are stretching the intention of this provision, which I guess is to RESTRICT the number of breakfasts to TWO only. I think that you would not get much support for your interpretation of the T&C from the Customer Support people who enforce the rules.I totally disagree. I always thought it was strange it was worded the way it was, but it seems obvious to me it clearly allows "one other registered hotel guest", there is not any interpretation needed for that in my opinion. If I have a colleauge traveling with me and he is staying at the hotel, I can have him as my breakfast guest. The ones enforcing the rules are the check-in agents, and quite frankly they often have little to no knowledge of what the written rules actually state, only what they've been told at their hotel.

many properties provide coupons for breakfast - and in my experience they always give 2 cupons per night (this has happened when I was staying alone, but also when I had booked a room for 3 for example).

If confusion reigns at the hotel about HH benefits, first show them a copy of the HH T&C. If that does not satisfy you request to speak to the HH manager. They are usually far more familiar with the HH T&C than with the rest of the employees combined. If that fails call Hilton Guest Relations (its an 800 number I cant locate now). This has worked for me.........AND TO MY SATISFACTION almost 100% of the time. Good luck.

MisterNice

I wish it were more consistent, as breakfast is probably the best benefit Gold members have. In the past month alone I've seen full buffet breakfast with champagne (Hilton Barcelona) to a certificate good for coffee and a muffin (Waikoloa).

How hard is it to insist the properties provide a decent breakfast? I guess it's hard!

You have THREE "My Way" choices, one of which is a room upgrade (if available) plus a continental breakfast. I suggest that you make sure that you have selected the room upgrade and breakfast as your choice.

Although, strictly speaking, the T&C provide for a breakfast for you and "one other registered guest" I personally think that you are stretching the intention of this provision, which I guess is to RESTRICT the number of breakfasts to TWO only. I think that you would not get much support for your interpretation of the T&C from the Customer Support people who enforce the rules.I agree with Bondiboy.

The intention of this phrase is to restrict the complimentary Gold Continental breakfast benefit to a maximum of two guests staying in the member's room.

No other interpretation makes any commercial sense.

Yes, it is poorly written and should indeed specify the guest needs to be staying in the members room. (Similar to "Spouse stays free in the member's room on qualifying stays".)

FWIW, even when travelling alone, if it costs no more to specify two guests in the reservation, then I do so.

... How hard is it to insist the properties provide a decent breakfast? I guess it's hard!The minimum Gold VIP benefit is a "Continental Breakfast" (unless 1k HH or Internet are otherwise selected).

That is what I base my decisions upon - anything further I consider a bonus.

As for what comprises a "Continental breakfast" I would hope for a minimum of Juice, bakery/cereal & coffee/tea.

Breston, as a former Hilton Employee at the front desk simple answer: Book your room for two people. When you do, the front desk will likely put two coupons per day or it's equivalent for that property. At times, check the rate as you may get charged for two people (although also unlikely).

Then you can give it away as needed. It will work 90% of the time. Personally, it's a stretch to ask for a coworker in another room, but even then 50% of the time, if asked nicely, the front desk will get you a coupon.

As for what comprises a "Continental breakfast" I would hope for a minimum of Juice, bakery/cereal & coffee/tea.

Continental breakfasts seem better "on the Continent" -- aka Europe.

Has anyone been stiffed in Europe? I always seem to get lavish spreads, usually the restaurant buffet.

It would be nice to have a wiki-type thread where we could keep track of the perks for each hotel. It can make a difference which property to book. Like the Barcelona Hilton was a totally missable property, except they showered me with perks.

Do Golds and up also get the free breakfasts on award stays?

Do Golds and up also get the free breakfasts on award stays?

Yes, they do. You also get credit for # of nights stayed for rewards, too. Love HH.

I've done this multiple times: as a HH Diamond, booked multiple (done this for 3 incl. myself) rooms for myself and co-workers and and each room has received the benefit. Since we travel together, I check in first and indicate to them that I am the member on the reservation and the other co-workers will be paying separately. They give the front desk clerk their HH# and credit card, and 10 times out of 10 they've been given lounge access / breakfast coupons / etc. The hotel can tell that the co-workers are not Diamond members (one is Gold, other Silver) so they can easily remove the benefits if they so choose, I can demand the benefits as Diamond if there is a problem, and all's well :)

Do Golds and up also get the free breakfasts on award stays?

Yes, they do. You also get credit for # of nights stayed for rewards, too. Love HH. ...As posted, all VIP benefits are valid for award stays.

Aside from night credits, you also get a Stay credit and HHonors points for incidentals.

My last award stay was at a Conrad for two night and I was upgraded to exec level as a gold. I also received 10K HHonors on a Conrad promotion I had registered for.

I agree with Bondiboy.

The intention of this phrase is to restrict the complimentary Gold Continental breakfast benefit to a maximum of two guests staying in the member's room.

No other interpretation makes any commercial sense.

Yes, it is poorly written and should indeed specify the guest needs to be staying in the members room. (Similar to "Spouse stays free in the member's room on qualifying stays".)If that was their intention it would be quite easy to write it that way. That's not what is written, and the meaning of "registered hotel guest" as opposed to "registerted hotel guest in the same room." seems crystal clear to me.

The commercial sense seems obvious to me, why would you want to discourage two people from booking two rooms instead of just one?

In the US this is not a problem anyway since I don't believe any Hilton properties charge for a second person in a room (overseas YMMV), so just add whoever you want as a second registered guest, even if they have their own room.

If that was their intention it would be quite easy to write it that way. That's not what is written, and the meaning of "registered hotel guest" as opposed to "registerted hotel guest in the same room." seems crystal clear to me.

The commercial sense seems obvious to me, why would you want to discourage two people from booking two rooms instead of just one?

Yep. That's how I see it, too.

I've done this multiple times: as a HH Diamond, booked multiple (done this for 3 incl. myself) rooms for myself and co-workers and and each room has received the benefit. Since we travel together, I check in first and indicate to them that I am the member on the reservation and the other co-workers will be paying separately. They give the front desk clerk their HH# and credit card, and 10 times out of 10 they've been given lounge access / breakfast coupons / etc. The hotel can tell that the co-workers are not Diamond members (one is Gold, other Silver) so they can easily remove the benefits if they so choose, I can demand the benefits as Diamond if there is a problem, and all's well :)

I have done this as well, and my colleague has received breakfast benefits. However, I will not demand the benefits for them if the hotel does not grant them benefits. The benefits are for Diamond (and Gold) members, not the Silver member.

The commercial sense seems obvious to me, why would you want to discourage two people from booking two rooms instead of just one?


Not too many business travellers would be willing to share a room, so no discouragement necessary.

Properties do vary considerably in how they interpret the benefits / perquisites to elites. But, the woman at the Köln Hilton was wrong, however, in insisting a breakfast is only due those who received upgraded rooms.

A "Continental" breakfast is what Golds and Diamonds are entitled to - many hotels (thankfully) do provide more substantial breakfasts in the hotel restaurant or the executive lounge, or an opportunity to "upgrade" art a modest price. Chintzier hotels will allow a muffin or bagel and coffee, some will not even provide that and will insist on noncompliance, and some will charge like a an enraged bull for the "upgrade." :td: (The worst are still those that can get by with complete noncompliance.)

Some properties will extent breakfast privileges to only two occupants (or perhaps two adults and up to two children) and others will extend it to more. A couple of weeks ago, Napa HGI provided breakfast chits for two of the four on the same folio (and the desk clerk could not get both rooms on one folio, so I suspect I will have to request full points from HHonors.)

HGI Monterey had no problem justifying both rooms to one folio, gave both couples premium rooms and all four breakfast chits for what is a very nice breakfast (much better than the average HGI.)

As for PDXOutbound, his / her advice is quite valid, IMO. I always book for two, knowing most HH properties will follow the T&C and charge for one when there is a differential, and my packet often contains two keys and two breakfast chits. And, yes, I also think it's a stretch to ask for a breakfast for a colleague in another room (asking for full HHonors elite treatment would even be more of a stretch,) but there's never harm in asking, other than the impression one leaves of him/herself.)

That having been said, too many properties still seem to be confused when they stock the room with one bathrobe and one pair of slippers, even when two of us check in. ;)

And, yes, I also think it's a stretch to ask for a breakfast for a colleague in another room (asking for full HHonors elite treatment would even be more of a stretch,) but there's never harm in asking, other than the impression one leaves of him/herself.)I'm hardly one to push the envelope of stretching rules like some FT'ers, but I am very surprised so many of you are willing to ignore what is plainly written and accept an interpretation that is different than those plainly written rules.

I'm hardly one to push the envelope of stretching rules like some FT'ers, but I am very surprised so many of you are willing to ignore what is plainly written and accept an interpretation that is different than those plainly written rules.We will simply have to agree to differ on this. Cheers ...

I agree with Bondiboy.

The intention of this phrase is to restrict the complimentary Gold Continental breakfast benefit to a maximum of two guests staying in the member's room.
Why should terms that are 100% in the control of HHonors be interpreted to favor HHonors and not the consumer? Usually such one-side contracts are interpreted in favor of the party who did not write the document.

The intention of this phrase is to restrict the complimentary Gold Continental breakfast benefit to a maximum of two guests staying in the member's room. That was my assumption (previously), without ever giving it much thought. However, I agree completely with soitgoes. And by no means do I mean to be argumentative, but how exactly are you sure you know the intention?

Why should terms that are 100% in the control of HHonors be interpreted to favor HHonors and not the consumer? Usually such one-side contracts are interpreted in favor of the party who did not write the document.

Why should terms that are 100% in the control of HHonors be interpreted to favor HHonors and not the consumer? Usually such one-side contracts are interpreted in favor of the party who did not write the document.+1 * 100%

Why should terms that are 100% in the control of HHonors be interpreted to favor HHonors and not the consumer? Usually such one-side contracts are interpreted in favor of the party who did not write the document.

That was my assumption (previously), without ever giving it much thought. However, I agree completely with soitgoes. And by no means do I mean to be argumentative, but how exactly are you sure you know the intention?

+1 * 100%I always assume the least benefit - in that way anything beyond I perceive as a bonus.

In this case I interpreted the condition in that manner.

You are all free to approach any perceived benefit as you wish; do not be disappointed if you get less or feel the need to fight for more.