Originally Posted by
whimsey21
As Sharon mentioned, this topic has been discussed frequently both here and on the Hilton board. For my part, I used to not care about breakfast when traveling for work, as a nice bakery was perfectly sufficient. When traveling with family, however, it becomes a bigger deal. My kids have come to look forward to the huge/varied spreads in Asian hotels, and we find it is a huge time savings to eat in the hotel, rather than hunt about for a (safe) place to eat. Usually my kids eat enough at the buffet that they can also forgo a real lunch if we're traveling somewhere difficult to find good options or where they aren't fond of the food choices. So I do choose hotels based on breakfast on family trips, and for these I've found my Hilton honors status tends to be better than my Marriott gold status. Im not sure I've ever stayed at a Hilton in Asia or Europe that hasn't given us breakfast for four, while the Marriott's I've stayed at or contacted are usually quite strict about 2 people only. I'm in India now sandbox had been planning to stay at some Marriotts, but they wanted so much extra for the kids' breakfasts that I opted to stay elsewhere. For our family, the HHonors breakfast benefit is probably worth $50-80 per night in Europe/Asia. I do still often choose Marriott properties when alone for work, but my last few family trips have led me to prioritize maintaining my Hilton status over my Marriott status for the breakfast.
Travelling with my father-in-law and staying at Marriott hotels we got comp. breakfast for us 3 at Marriott Stuttgart (Sindelfingen), Gold - and Marriott Paris Champs Elysees,
was no elite that time, reward stay points plus cash. The latter ("here is your voucher for three, you are our valued guests") was a kind of key experience for me (and not to forget how we were treated there in general), it impressed me so much, that as result I stay more and more at Marriott hotels and the group will next year be my no. 1 travel choice.
I find it convenient on business stays to have my coffee and my rolls with butter in the hotel as I leave early and usually have no time to loose to stop somewhere at the road.
But Elite breakfast I see mainly as a holiday benefit for stays with my family. We choose JW Marriott, Marriott, Ren, Autograph for holiday stays and get comp. breakfast. The resorts are excluded from the breakfast benefit. If someone pays with points a room at an expensive destination, IMHO he can - if not given as benefit - spend some money (full amount or some amount compensated by a voucher) for breakfast (and for F&B, dinner and so on in general), I think this is fair, and should support the hotel to keep up the high quality I want to get when on holidays.
*) On stays at expensive luxury properties paying high rates I see it different (see Leaders Club - Elite breakfast benefit).
Hopefully the Marriott elite breakfast benefit of
the joined program will include at least Sheraton, Westin, Tribute Portfolio, W and some Luxury Collection properties *)
EDIT:
*) I suggest Platinum members should get on paid and reward stays comp. breakfast (and Lounge access) at all properties incl. resorts and top luxury branded hotels (Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, etc.)