Excellent article from
Raffles!
There's one thing in the article that could use clarification:
At Marriott Hotels and Delta Hotels (and three other Marriott legacy brands), daily breakfast for Platinum Elite and above is a function of Guaranteed Lounge Access --
not as Welcome Gift choice for Platinum Elite and above.
The Terms & Conditions call for a restaurant breakfast when there isn't a Lounge: "In Europe: Participating Properties without a Lounge or approved alternative offer daily breakfast in restaurant for Member plus one (1) guest, or Member can choose 750 Points per night of Stay. This benefit applies to the following brands (resort properties excluded): JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, and Renaissance Hotels."
Did you catch the part about "or approved alternative"?
According to the Terms & Conditions: "At Delta Hotels properties without a Signature Club Lounge, as the approved alternative the Member will receive access to the Elite Pantry."
When a Marriott Hotel doesn't have a Concierge Lounge or M Club Lounge serving breakfast, the alternative is daily breakfast in the restaurant.
When a Delta Hotel doesn't have a Signature Lounge serving breakfast, the hotel only has to provide access to the Elite Pantry, with a limited selection of cold grab-and-go breakfast items.
Let's hope that the newly rebranded Delta Hotels in the UK don't go the Elite Pantry route. This would be a serious downgrade of elite benefits.
A couple of months ago, my wife and I stayed the Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County and the Liverpool Marriott Hotel City Centre. Due to Titanium Elite status, we enjoyed full breakfast buffets in their restaurants, with a good selection of real Continental (meats, cheeses, breads, etc.) items and Full English (eggs, sausages, beans, etc.) items.
Presumably the Delta Hotels can -- and will -- continue to take good care of elite guests.
But, according to the Terms & Conditions, they don't have to.