Originally Posted by
Oxon Flyer
The 3 Ritz Carltons on the list (1 in Indonesia and 2 in Thailand) all specifically say "free breakfast" in their summary description, similarly for all 4 of the listed Autograph Collections (2 in Azerbaijan, 1 each in Greece & Spain). What gives ?
Indeed. This illustrates that MR has a huge 'free breakfast for all' hotel estate in the US, and a very sparse offering everywhere else in the world. One could equally argue that MR can 'afford' to offer free breakfast at the Gold tier level (compared, say, to SPG, which can't) because the heartland of MR gold members are the USA-based ones who earn and use their gold status in this huge estate where they get a free (cheap to provide and low quality) breakfast anyway.
We must be reading different descriptions, as I'm not seeing free breakfast as the standard offerings for those properties (or the exec apartments listed as well where free breakfast is not the norm).
Marriott has 469 full-service properties (am not including resorts unless there's a report by FTers of free brekkie offered, such as Vietnam) outside of the US that either have an exec lounge or offer free brekkie if there isn't one. That's not really 'sparse'. It also doesn't include the int'l limited service brands that offer free brekkie as part of their brand standards.
Are there less MAR limited service brands outside of the US? Yes. Limited service brands is something Marriott is slowly rolling out rest of world. However, SPG isn't exactly robust in brands in general that offer free brekkie or have lounges, whether that be full-service or limited service & have less of both outside of the US. I'm perplexed by your comment that SPG can't afford to offer its Golds free brekkie in the USA.
The one thing I think most of us are in agreement on is that Marriott comes in 2nd/3rd to SPG & Hilton wrt resorts & free brekkie. The lack of free breakfast at resorts has been a thorn in most MAR elites side for years & is nothing new.
Anyway,
DELee did a nice job w/ his summary as did
sdsearch's additional main point so well done them
But as mentioned, free brekkie has been discussed in this forum & other hotel forums for years & periodically crops up every year or every couple of years. So we're all probably commenting on items we've commented on before.
Can't speak for others, but I'm moving on as I'm not sure much that's new will be added (well until the programs merge late '18/early '19& we find out how both sides will be affected wrt breakfast!).
Have a good weekend!
Cheers.