Honestly -- I would cut these guys (the SF Grand Hyatt) some slack. As much as I am about milking Globalist benefits, this property where it's situated is in an entirely rough spot right now. Most of the year I would assume their clientele is >80% business travelers or conventioneers, and I'm sure a lot of their margin was driven by large group events at their restaurants during convention season. I've only stayed there a couple of times for work travel, but typically dined at yummier restaurants within a block or two.

What's kinda unfair is demanding that these guys give us a 3-course full-service breakfast given their bread and butter was keeping the beers and fruit platter stocked in the Club, and they're really just trying to keep a fraction of their staff on payroll right now. If the crappy Starbucks credit doesn't do it for you (and I agree it sucks) then just don't go there.

In current times, this place is certainly not a staycation destination. The rooms are just a bit too small and claustrophobic. In the best of times it was a hotel for business travelers who spent as little time in their room as possible -- mostly sleeping or FaceTiming their families back home. If I were to be traveling to SF for work right now, I'd probably stay at the HR on Embarcadero -- where the rooms are also small but a scenic penthouse balcony upgrade is almost Globalist guaranteed in current environs, or the Kabuki a bit further removed from the hustle of Union Square -- which really isn't a great place to be right now.

FWIW - there is similar outrage with a SoCal hotel right now -- the HR Orange County, which is giving a similarly ridiculous Starbucks credit as the Globalist benefit. But that said, the room rates are $88. so the $20-25 cuts into that margin pretty heavily.

On the other side of the spectrum --- I booked a couple of local mattress run nights to take advantage of the double-nights promo, and ending up going to the HR John Wayne Airport on points. It was 8K a night (minus 25% refund for a net of 6K), and the restaurant gave us $70-$100 of breakfast each day. It was never really communicated what we were allowed to order, but I just ordered everything I wanted (within reason) and they basically just took everything off when I checked out. It was good enough that I would drive down each day (~15 mins from home) to get breakfast to-go, and between the tier nights and free breakfast I still feel like I came out ahead. Everybody there was amazingly gracious -- and I don't know how they're remaining afloat (they're at 10% occupancy)-- although I guess there are always people flying out the next day who need to be situated as close to the airport as possible.