Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

IMO in most hotels where the only breakfast option is the buffet, they ask for names and room numbers at the entrance. However, higher end hotels and those where people can also order one or more items from the menu (at additional charge) or order from the menu rather than taking the buffet tend to present a bill at the end of breakfast, just as would be done at dinner. I've also seen hotels that offer cold/continental and hot/full breakfast buffets at different prices give guests a bill at the end.

Unfortunately many breakfast buffets ask the arriving guests to say their name and room number. Sometimes the hostess repeats the information very loudly so that anyone in the vicinity can hear. Sometimes the hostess has a printed list that also shows departure dates. I wonder whether the guests could have given their name and room number the previous day, the information was overheard, and then imposters entered using guests' name/room. This doesn't seem like the scenario that was told to the OP but it could easily happen.

When a hotel employee announces my room number as I'm entering breakfast, I'm more concerned that this indicated that my room will be unoccupied for at least the next half hour, thereby making it easy for a thief to go through my room to search for valuables to take.