If you want a decent beachfront Marriott elite breakfast you have to go to the Westin or Sheraton on the Kaanapali side. I generally think that the Beach Resort’s Aloha-esque spirit and being in Wailea make up for the less than elite breakfast, but YMMV.

I did love that the Black Rock Sheraton comped parking for elites, but that has come to an end. They didn’t charge for my parking in March (without asking) in that I had reserved under the old rules…just an example that benefits erode almost everywhere.

Lot's of loyalty there coffee and a pastry!

Let's see... I can stay at an amazing property with fantastic rooms, great restaurants, outstanding customer service, world-class pools, a stupendous spa, and on an amazing part of a wonderful tropical island. Or I can choose someplace else where I get a free breakfast.

Sometimes I forget what a warped-reality kind of cyberspace FT is.

That about sums it up with Marriott especially in the Islands. If I was starting over today and really bored down into the FF programs I would ask myself "why"? Now that I am retired with several million points/miles left in the "bank" I ask myself that now. Think about if all these programs were wound down and the money really applied to the operations how much would it affect our pricing? A lot. The "currency" of FF programs has dropped by 50% over the years ( My estimate ) and continues. As does service and quality of the product.

you miss the point, though your off point is well taken….

several world class resorts in the islands all of which provide the experience you cite. Some also provide exceptional program benefits (Westin Hapuna for example) - which do you choose?

True, but choosing one island over another based on the breakfast benefits seems to me like putting the cart before the horse. Wouldn’t a lot of other factors have to be an exact dead heat before getting down to the breakfast tie-breaker? And it can happen, my recent tie-breaker to pick the Kaanapali Sheraton over the Westin was the (now extinct) free parking. Then we moved over to the Grand Wailea where we wisely spent our $50 on alcohol which, trust me, doesn’t go far in the Botero Lounge.

Remembering back years ago when some OP was trying to decide going to Milan or Florence on their first trip to Italy based on the strength of the executive lounge. It still strikes me as entirely the wrong question to agonize over.

Free breakfast is an important factor for me. That said, I agree with you it isn't the most important factor that I base a decision on. Hotel location and property type are more important to me. My requirements vary by trip (business vs. leisure, quick overnight on a road trip vs. vacation stay, etc.). Furthermore, depending on rates, a property that doesn't provide breakfast (or a minimal one), may still work out cheaper than one that does. When there are multiple otherwise acceptable properties in an area, free breakfast will definitely become an important factor. And no, I have never chosen a property based on the hotel breakfast as the top criteria. The location I want to be is always the top factor. Long winded way of agreeing with you. LOL....

--Jon