Dec 29, 2018, 7:57 pm
Last edit by: applesauce
Updating for post-covid
STATE, City
STATE, City
Hotel name; Operator: Dates
Details (offered, asked, invoked?)
United States
CA, San Diego
Guild Hotel, Tribute Portfolio: ; 11/21
GA, Atlanta
United States
CA, San Diego
Guild Hotel, Tribute Portfolio: ; 11/21
GA, Atlanta
The Burgess, Tribute Portfolio; ; 07/23
No lounge. No breakfast. Claims exempt as a "boutique" hotel. Did not invoke.
TX, San Antonio
St Anthony Hotel; Operated by BC Lynd (?); 11/22
$15pp but does not include tax or tip. Only found out at checkout.
Mexico
Full Service Properties that Don't Comply with the Breakfast Benefit
Jun 8, 2023, 12:17 pm
#256
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Toronto, Ont., Canada
Programs: Aeroplan; Marriott Platinum; IHG Platinum; Best Western Diamond
Posts: 2,165
The good news is that plenty of Marriott Bonvoy full-service and luxury properties provide excellent breakfasts to Platinum Elite and above. My wife and I recently stayed at five properties in Italy -- one Westin, one Renaissance, two Autograph Collection, and one St. Regis -- which all had well-stocked breakfast buffets with plenty of choices and no extra charges for anything.
Depending on the brand and property type (hotel or resort), the daily breakfast benefit rules (for member + 1) at full-service and luxury properties fall into three categories: (1) breakfast through "Guaranteed Lounge Access," (2) breakfast in the restaurant as a Welcome Gift choice, and (3) no breakfast benefit at all. See the Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions for all the details.
When there's no lounge or the lounge is closed, hotels of Marriott legacy brands that provide restaurant breakfast through "Guaranteed Lounge Access" can limit the free elite breakfast to a "continental breakfast." In such cases, the hotel can offer a more complete breakfast for an additional charge. Most hotels realize this is petty, so they provide a full buffet or traditional hotel breakfast. But they're not in violation of the T&Cs if they only provide "continental breakfast" and offer a credit toward other breakfasts.
The benefit should never ONLY be a discount or credit. If there's only a credit -- insufficient for breakfast food, coffee, and juice -- then the hotel is in violation, and the member should invoke the guarantee.
If a full-service hotel only wants to provide daily USD $10 credits for member + 1, then the hotel should rebrand to Courtyard, AC Hotels, or Moxy.
Depending on the brand and property type (hotel or resort), the daily breakfast benefit rules (for member + 1) at full-service and luxury properties fall into three categories: (1) breakfast through "Guaranteed Lounge Access," (2) breakfast in the restaurant as a Welcome Gift choice, and (3) no breakfast benefit at all. See the Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions for all the details.
When there's no lounge or the lounge is closed, hotels of Marriott legacy brands that provide restaurant breakfast through "Guaranteed Lounge Access" can limit the free elite breakfast to a "continental breakfast." In such cases, the hotel can offer a more complete breakfast for an additional charge. Most hotels realize this is petty, so they provide a full buffet or traditional hotel breakfast. But they're not in violation of the T&Cs if they only provide "continental breakfast" and offer a credit toward other breakfasts.
The benefit should never ONLY be a discount or credit. If there's only a credit -- insufficient for breakfast food, coffee, and juice -- then the hotel is in violation, and the member should invoke the guarantee.
If a full-service hotel only wants to provide daily USD $10 credits for member + 1, then the hotel should rebrand to Courtyard, AC Hotels, or Moxy.
In Sept., we'll stay at Courtyard Vilnius, AC Copenhagen, and maybe Moxy Bergen. Sounds like we'll need to spend more for decent breakfast.
Jun 8, 2023, 7:55 pm
#257
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: FL
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, American Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 88
Stayed at the Renaissance Reno in late May. Was informed the lounge does not offer hot food on weekends (its open for beverages & packaged food...while it lasted), no alternate breakfast would be provided & that I would get 750 points instead (no alternative). To add insult to injury never actually got the 750 points.
Jun 9, 2023, 9:15 am
#258
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,204
Stayed at the Renaissance Reno in late May. Was informed the lounge does not offer hot food on weekends (its open for beverages & packaged food...while it lasted), no alternate breakfast would be provided & that I would get 750 points instead (no alternative). To add insult to injury never actually got the 750 points.
Jun 9, 2023, 2:05 pm
#259
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: FL
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, American Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 88
Aug 11, 2023, 7:17 am
#260
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 362
Hi all. Quick question, reply would be greatly appreciated! Platinum elite, currently at Marriott by the Brooklyn Bridge. M Lounge closed on Sat/Sun. There is a little coffee shop in the lobby that sells coffee and bagels etc. Reception told me I would receive 750 points on Sat and Sun, not a credit for the coffee shop "because it is not a full service restaurant, and Marriott's breakfast guarantee when the lounge is closed is only in cases where the hotel has a full service restaurant." I can't see this language in the T&C and it seems to me that the hotel is in violation of the elite benefits guarantee - can anyone guide me on this? Is the breakfast replacement only when there's a full service restaurant, or should they be comping me breakfast up to a certain amount in that coffee shop?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Aug 11, 2023, 10:21 am
#261
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,276
Hi all. Quick question, reply would be greatly appreciated! Platinum elite, currently at Marriott by the Brooklyn Bridge. M Lounge closed on Sat/Sun. There is a little coffee shop in the lobby that sells coffee and bagels etc. Reception told me I would receive 750 points on Sat and Sun, not a credit for the coffee shop "because it is not a full service restaurant, and Marriott's breakfast guarantee when the lounge is closed is only in cases where the hotel has a full service restaurant." I can't see this language in the T&C and it seems to me that the hotel is in violation of the elite benefits guarantee - can anyone guide me on this? Is the breakfast replacement only when there's a full service restaurant, or should they be comping me breakfast up to a certain amount in that coffee shop?
Thanks!
Thanks!
The hotel is still selling breakfast to paying guests. The hotel should also provide breakfast (at least a complete continental breakfast, including tax and tip) to Platinum Elite members and above. Shame on the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge that it doesn't have a traditional table-service / buffet restaurant serving breakfast, but it has the Brooklyn Pantry counter-service restaurant adjacent to the M Club Lounge. There's no reason a qualifying member (+1) should not be able to get a breakfast sandwich and/or quality pastry, fruit, coffee, and juice.
If the lounge is closed, it's the member's choice -- not the hotel's choice -- of breakfast or 750 points. You can legitimately claim compensation under Guaranteed Lounge Access.
If the hotel wants to have itself put into the Terms & Conditions on the list of specific properties that only provide 1000 points and not breakfast if the lounge is closed, that's another choice for the hotel. It's a "hall of shame" list, but at least the hotel could then legitimately point to the Terms & Conditions as an excuse for providing a pittance of points instead of a breakfast worthy of a full-service hotel.
In no case is what the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge doing and saying acceptable.
Aug 11, 2023, 11:36 am
#262
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 362
Many thanks!
The hotel is inventing its own fake rules.
The hotel is still selling breakfast to paying guests. The hotel should also provide breakfast (at least a complete continental breakfast, including tax and tip) to Platinum Elite members and above. Shame on the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge that it doesn't have a traditional table-service / buffet restaurant serving breakfast, but it has the Brooklyn Pantry counter-service restaurant adjacent to the M Club Lounge. There's no reason a qualifying member (+1) should not be able to get a breakfast sandwich and/or quality pastry, fruit, coffee, and juice.
If the lounge is closed, it's the member's choice -- not the hotel's choice -- of breakfast or 750 points. You can legitimately claim compensation under Guaranteed Lounge Access.
If the hotel wants to have itself put into the Terms & Conditions on the list of specific properties that only provide 1000 points and not breakfast if the lounge is closed, that's another choice for the hotel. It's a "hall of shame" list, but at least the hotel could then legitimately point to the Terms & Conditions as an excuse for providing a pittance of points instead of a breakfast worthy of a full-service hotel.
In no case is what the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge doing and saying acceptable.
The hotel is still selling breakfast to paying guests. The hotel should also provide breakfast (at least a complete continental breakfast, including tax and tip) to Platinum Elite members and above. Shame on the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge that it doesn't have a traditional table-service / buffet restaurant serving breakfast, but it has the Brooklyn Pantry counter-service restaurant adjacent to the M Club Lounge. There's no reason a qualifying member (+1) should not be able to get a breakfast sandwich and/or quality pastry, fruit, coffee, and juice.
If the lounge is closed, it's the member's choice -- not the hotel's choice -- of breakfast or 750 points. You can legitimately claim compensation under Guaranteed Lounge Access.
If the hotel wants to have itself put into the Terms & Conditions on the list of specific properties that only provide 1000 points and not breakfast if the lounge is closed, that's another choice for the hotel. It's a "hall of shame" list, but at least the hotel could then legitimately point to the Terms & Conditions as an excuse for providing a pittance of points instead of a breakfast worthy of a full-service hotel.
In no case is what the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge doing and saying acceptable.
Aug 11, 2023, 4:01 pm
#263
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
Aug 12, 2023, 9:05 pm
#264
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 301
This thread should have a wiki with all hotels denting benefits. Would be really helpful.
I've invoked it a number of times and the hotel *always* refuses.
I was looking at the Burgess in Atlanta but read multiple reviews saying they deny the breakfast benefit. Debating whether to book anyway and dealing with the blood pressure from crappy hotel management.
I've invoked it a number of times and the hotel *always* refuses.
I was looking at the Burgess in Atlanta but read multiple reviews saying they deny the breakfast benefit. Debating whether to book anyway and dealing with the blood pressure from crappy hotel management.
Aug 13, 2023, 10:20 am
#266
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 301
I didn't realize the thread does have a wiki! I've updated it for post-covid and will fill in some more when I'm not mobile.
Also, I'm not sure if anyone's figured this out, but you can actually comment on Marriott reviews! Saw one comment on one hotel review and was determined to figure it out. In the mobile app reviews page, if you search reviews and click "read full review" at the bottom of the full review will be a comment box. Fill it out and you get an email to confirm submission. I haven't found another way to do it. Useful to comment on hotels violating Marriott T&C when you don't get a review request.
E.g. Burgess review comment, few down from the top.
Also, I'm not sure if anyone's figured this out, but you can actually comment on Marriott reviews! Saw one comment on one hotel review and was determined to figure it out. In the mobile app reviews page, if you search reviews and click "read full review" at the bottom of the full review will be a comment box. Fill it out and you get an email to confirm submission. I haven't found another way to do it. Useful to comment on hotels violating Marriott T&C when you don't get a review request.
E.g. Burgess review comment, few down from the top.
Last edited by applesauce; Aug 13, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Aug 13, 2023, 10:51 am
#267
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,088
Aug 29, 2023, 7:20 am
#268
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 362
Hi all, many of you may be interested in my update on this issue (see OP from Aug 11 and responses).
I invoked the guarantee with a staff member and was told that they would pass it on to the manager who would call me the next day. The next morning I got a call from the manager who asked me to clarify my concern, and when I did, he told me that I was indeed correct and that I was eligible for $100 and that I should come down to reception to sort it out.
I went down to reception a few minutes later, the manager came out, gave me a form to sign, and then handed me over a crisp $100 bill. I was rather dumbfounded - I assumed that they would simply deduct $100 from the bill - but no, he gave me $100 in cash... the weirdest thing...
I had overheard a receptionist telling the same story to another couple checking in (this was before I complained) so I am confident this was not a mistake by one receptionist but rather a hotel policy which sees the occasional $100 paid out to an anal guest like me as a price worth paying in order to save much more money on many breakfasts each weekend....
Thank you Horace and Kacee for encouraging me to go for it!!
I invoked the guarantee with a staff member and was told that they would pass it on to the manager who would call me the next day. The next morning I got a call from the manager who asked me to clarify my concern, and when I did, he told me that I was indeed correct and that I was eligible for $100 and that I should come down to reception to sort it out.
I went down to reception a few minutes later, the manager came out, gave me a form to sign, and then handed me over a crisp $100 bill. I was rather dumbfounded - I assumed that they would simply deduct $100 from the bill - but no, he gave me $100 in cash... the weirdest thing...
I had overheard a receptionist telling the same story to another couple checking in (this was before I complained) so I am confident this was not a mistake by one receptionist but rather a hotel policy which sees the occasional $100 paid out to an anal guest like me as a price worth paying in order to save much more money on many breakfasts each weekend....
Thank you Horace and Kacee for encouraging me to go for it!!
Aug 29, 2023, 7:48 am
#269
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Wayne, PA USA
Programs: DL MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, HHonors Gold
Posts: 7,242
Dulles Airport Marriott “breakfast” consists of single-serving bags of various Lays salty snacks (chips, pretzels, etc), and a vat of “oatmeal” (no condiments or anything, just “oatmeal”, bubbling away).
Sad
Sad
Aug 29, 2023, 10:31 am
#270
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,206
Sounds like they are in violation... a bowl of oatmeal and bag of chips does not equate to a continental breakfast in any country.