Originally Posted by
sdsearch
Anyway, the question is not what these younger, more-sophisticated, health-conscious travelers expect from a free hotel breakfast. It's (a) do they any have interest in "budget" brand hotels at all, and (b) even if so, do they plan to eat breakfast at the hotel anyway? It could be that they don't consider breakfast something you eat at a hotel period (ie, they assume they'll have to go out for breakfast like they have to go out for dinner, when staying at limited-service hotels.)
I think everybody likes to eat a "free" breakfast at their hotel -- if the food appeals to them.
I do recall reading an interview with the Choice CEO a few years ago. He indicated that "the waffle" was a big deal for the chain -- that it drove business. A little hard to believe for me -- as I eat these waffles only in desperation -- but he indicated that they were very popular among Choice's guests. I know Choice isn't a chain frequented much by fancy-pants travelers, but I do believe the majority of their guests can appreciate the difference, say, between an artisan-like bagel and the awful cheap bread products they serve. Like they appreciate Panera over Lenders. Am I wrong?