Originally Posted by CCIE_Flyer

It would seem so - the tip jar was half full of such bills shortly after the omelette station was set up.



Hotels are obviously under no obligation to offer a gov't rate, and they're free to charge more than the gov't has deemed reasonable and still call it a gov't rate. In this specific case, the HSV Westin created a rate which they called something to the effect of "Government Rate with Breakfast." It's just a creative way to add $14/day to the bill even for those:

a) Who don't care for breakfast
b) Have status and would otherwise qualify for a free breakfast

And as noted before, $14 is for either a dry breakfast, or a breakfast with tap water - anything else will cost you extra (and they do not warn of this in advance - they point to very fine print after the fact).

It's not usual for me to spend quite a bit more than I will be reimbursed for - I stay where I will be most comfortable and absorb additional cost which falls within my own definition of reasonable. I just find shenanigans such as these to be very distasteful.