No they couldn't have done that, not without somehow re-branding the Fairfield in Anaheim that doesn't have a breakfast of any sort, free or otherwise, for anyone! And yet it's still branded a Fairfield . So as long as there are random exceptions like that, they can't possibly give a guarantee like you suggested.

Meanwhile, do all hotels that give free breakfast to all even give it on Christmas morning? I was in a hotel in another brand that has breakfast in the restaurant, free to elites, and they had the restaurant closed on Christmas morning (with no advance notice). I've never stayed in a hotel in the US before on Christmas morning, so I don't have any further experience in this regard. (I was staying in a hotel because of a temporary situation at my relatives' house where they were out of room for sleeping. Luckily they were not out of room for breakfast on Christmas morning. )

Anyway, my point is, there may be multiple reasons why it's impossible for a chain to guarantee a breakfast (without incurring costs of paying up when the breakfast isn't offered).