Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,885
1) Have similar changes been made at Residence Inn properties? These tended to have decent buffets (sometimes including waffles and pancakes), and customer satisfaction (along with room rates) were higher. I would be surprised if the changes were as extensive there.
2) On the rest of the brands, hotel owners are dealing with food inflation, employee turnover, other issues. They have been fighting for this for a while. Unfortunately Marriott may have gone too far. I generally avoid most of the other brands for Courtyard/Residence Inn/AC or Hampton/Hilton Garden Inn anyway.
3) In the US, outside of maybe the Hilton breakfast benefit, and some free breakfast offered at the high end for elite members at Marriott/Hyatt, it is increasingly not worth it to worry about low quality, "free" breakfasts offered. Just choose hotels based on other criteria