submonte

I have been staying at many HIX in Europe (Germany - Essen, Dortmund, Frankfurt Main city and area, Munich, Cologne, Baden-Baden, others -, Switzerland - Affoltern am Albis which is Zurch area, and another one more Motel type at a Swiss highway near Zurich -, France - Strasbourg) in the past years. Breakfast always was fully ok for that type of breakfast service, without exception. Never experienced such things like described (HIX Liverpool airport). Also no fail of consistency. If happened so, I would have been the first to complain and finally avoid to stay at that brand, which would have had negative influence on my IHG loyality as well.

ThatOneGayRavenclaw

With HIX it really seems to be hit and miss.
Even with the "same breakfasts" at most of them, I definitely can tell big differences in the quality.

For instance, the one I stayed at over this weekend has probably one of the most horrible breakfasts out of all them - the juice was watered down, meat and eggs were cold, but the biscuits were the best I've had at an HIX.

The one I stayed at a couple of weeks ago had a much better breakfast. The eggs were actually decent, sausage and bacon were great.... But the biscuits were hard as a rock.

Ultimately though, I'm happy enough with the frosted flakes and yogurt. I'll pass on the cooked foods usually. so long as I get what I paid for lodging-wise, the breakfast, if it's decent is a bonus, and if its not I still got my money's worth with the room.

IAN-UK

but my cunning scheme has nothing to do with passing customers: just a cosmetic exercise to allow IHG to demonstrate over-nighters are being given (free) a service they'd otherwise have to pay for

Of course, the hotels could always up their act to attract passing trade. That way we'd be winners as well...

submonte

Well I imagine I need to get something in my stomach (after having arrived late night before) plus (urgently ) coffee in the early morning before I sit in the car and rush to the next meeting.

Observing myself during business stays, for me it is sufficient breakfast what HIX provides. In Crown Plazas or HIs I pay for it, if I have time enough left for breakfast, eat one roll or bread ("Semmel" in South Germany) with butter, cheese, salami, two cup of black coffee no milk no sugar. Very seldom scrambled eggs and sausages. That is all. Waste of money to pay for a full buffet breakfast every time.

So for business stays the HIX breakfast concept is exactly what I need, except I invite a business guest to breakfast, but then I do not stay at an HIX.

On the contrary at leisure stays. I take my time and enjoy a (paid or comp) full buffet breakfast (at upscale or luxury hotels).

I have another wish for HIX, which is of course not topic of this thread. More choices in the evening than three types of pizzas. Maybe some pastas and sausages and schnitzel and French fries. Many HIX are not located where restaurants are in the near so I have to look for a McDonalds or rest stop before to not go to sleep hungry or again leave the hotel by car.

Fanjet

Actually, at one of the HIXs in Berlin, they offer breakfast to non-guests (for purchase). I think it is around 7 or 8 Euros. They even put a sign on the sidewalk in front of the hotel.

davie355

I've seen a HIX in the US offer breakfast to non-guests for $5. The sign was at the entrance to the breakfast area.

Spock Seat

Oh! No cinnamon buns, huh? This must be taken care of----how dare they. :-:

Too bad HIX Buckhurst Hill is no more. Loved that place for Ł35, a 1km walk, and the complaints that followed during B-fast. Great entertainment.

chrisksc

HIXs breakfast are hits and misses, really, depending where they are.

Generally, breakfast at HIXs in China are good, with varieties that include non-meat (bread, buns, fried rice, plain porridge, etc) and meat (pork and non-pork as well).

Some even have cooking staff making eggs and noodle where most are self-service.

Some HIXs in Hong Kong give you a selections of set meal, generally 3, to choose. So, it is a break away from buffet style.

For Bangkok, breakfast at HIX Sathorn and HIX Sukumvit are not bad.

For Jakarta HIXs, the one at Pluit is good but not the one at Tharmin. Tharmin has by far the worst breakfast I ever had. And I am not a particular person.

Froggitt

Pizzas and industrial 2 foot by 1 foot slabs of scrambled egg you shove in an oven and wait for the "ding". Anything more than that, like pasta, and you're in cooking territory, which HIX don't do.

chrism20

There are some HIXs that do fairly decent food out there. Preston South, Burnley, Greenock, Strathclyde are ones off the top of my head that I can think of, Preston even does steak.

Any of the BDL or ex More Than properties have a reasonable menu available and at least try, most of the others though it's just the pizzas.

Others such as Glasgow Theatreland & Aberdeen Exhibition will allow you to eat in the neighbouring HI and you can charge it to your HIX room.

Points Scrounger

American HIX have hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator case, along with milk and yogurt. I have no idea what you mean by "put on a tray" exactly? They have gluten-free pastries as well, although at some places one must request those from the kitchen.

ThatOneGayRavenclaw

Really? Is that rather standard? I just assumed it was what you see is what you get. I will have to keep that in mind in the future. I have no problem with gluten, but my partner has celiac so that is very interesting to know. I shall be sure to ask next time we end up staying in one.

KathyWdrf

Yes, the breakfasts I have had at HIX Frankfurt am Main (Messe/convention center) were WAY above the U.S. standard. Real food, lots of variety, in a very spacious, pleasant, attractive setting. (Admittedly, it's been a few years since I was last there.) On the other hand, the rooms there were very sparsely furnished -- almost spartan.

With regard to the comments about dinner food, I haven't stayed at any HIX in the U.S. that had any. But the abovementioned HIX Frankfurt had a small bar (selling, if I recall correctly, beer & wine), which offered pizzas for sale in the evening. Since this particular HIX is in a somewhat out-of-the-way location, that came in handy.

Fanjet

All of those things are pre-packaged and removed from their packaging in the back kitchen before being put on a tray or pan for guests. Do you think that they are boiling the eggs there? No. They come delivered by U.S. Foods (or another distributor) in a sealed plastic bag. The sausage patties? Pre-cooked at the distribution center. Then re-heated in a convection oven at the HIX. That "fresh" fruit salad? It comes delivered in a large palstic jar.

Now, at the HIXs in Germany and Poland, those hard boiled eggs are still in their shell.

IAN-UK

And grapefruit are peeled, the segments separated and de-skinned by hand; the sausage skins filled with freshly minced meat in the kitchens ...