Originally Posted by
Horace
WrightHI, You are mistaken.
seat38a, You are mistaken.
It's true that for hotels (but not resorts) of five brands — JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels — in the United States, breakfast is a function of Guaranteed Lounge Access. If there's no lounge or the lounge is closed, "the property will offer a daily continental breakfast in the restaurant for the Member plus one (1) guest, or Member can choose 750 Points per night of Stay." Most hotels of these brands provide more than just continental breakfast because they understand the business value of attracting and keeping elite members, but they don't have to.
However, Wailea Beach Resort - Marriott, Maui is a resort.
For the same five brands, the benefit for resorts is different. Breakfast is a function of Welcome Gift for Platinum Elite and above, just as for most Starwood legacy brands: "RESORTS only: United States, Canada, Europe: 1,000 Points per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1"
It's "breakfast," not "continental breakfast."
The
Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions clearly differentiate between "breakfast" and "continental breakfast" by using these terms deliberately in different contexts.
That means Wailea Beach Resort - Marriott, Maui should provide "breakfast in restaurant," just as one would get at Westin, St. Regis, or Luxury Collection properties. And if that's what the elite guest chooses, there would be no other Welcome Gift for Platinum Elite and above (unlike at a Marriott hotel).
Good luck arguing with the properties about the semantics between "Continental Breakfast" and "Breakfast." Correct me if I'm wrong but there is nowhere in the terms that distinguishes between what a continental breakfast vs breakfast is, nor a required minimum dollar value that the hotel's must give you to spend in the restaurants. Under the terms, technically the Sheraton Waikiki fullfiled their duties by serving me a breakfast, which is clearly in my opinion "Continental," in their restaurant. Same with the Westin which was in their quick serve takeaway and sit outside kind of joint.
In the days when the breakfast buffet was the standard at hotel properties, this wasn't really an issue since it was the breakfast buffet or nothing. Now with the buffet gone due to Covid, and restaurants serving a-la carte, things are much more convoluted.
TRAVEL4SCUBA from my experience be prepared for a fixed, "elite menu", or some sort of quick serve joint served to you in the restaurant. They will probably try to explain to you how the breakfast coupon covers: 1 item from this section and a beverage, but if you select from this other section, that counts as 2 items and blah blah blah blah. It got too confusing and during the whole 2 weeks I was at both properties, I just said, "bill the room if it doesn't cover this and that."