That's actually a valid point. What's the rationale for incidentals not accruing points? If brekkie isn't going to be comped & one has to pay for it (or room service if there is, or take-out from the property/bistro), then why wouldn't they earn points? If anything, the lack thereof would probably get me to look at off-site alternatives that might be less expensive & thus less revenue to Marriott. If I got points I'd be more likely to eat at the property.

Cheers.

The husband gets 55 per day in the US, flat whether he eats or not, no reciepts to turn in or anything. Outside the US they get 80% of the government per diem.

That's actually better than GSA per diem in some cities, not as good in others. For federal government travelers on per diem and staying at a hotel with per diem rate, Courtyard is single most expensive Marriott-branded choice a Marriott gold/plat traveler can make, taking breakfast out of his/her own pocket.

I am reimbursed actual expenses for food, with a daily limit. Getting a decent breakfast covered at the hotel, whether it's part of the basic offering or is an elite benefit, makes a big difference to me in what I'm able to enjoy for lunch and dinner.

+1. Having a decent breakfast included also helps to keep my expenses lower in general which helps my company and helps me.

--Jon

I realize I'm just piling on at this point, but I simply cannot comprehend Marriott's attitude about breakfasts for Gold and Platinum members. At full-service hotels, we get free breakfast most of the time (even on weekends quite often). At lower-end hotels, everybody gets free breakfast of some sort -- maybe not a fancy breakfast, but something. Courtyard is the standout exception: Gold and Platinum members get zip, zero, nada. It just makes no sense and is the reason that Courtyard is always at the very bottom of my list of Marriott-family brands.

Bruce

what to do?

entertain at lunch if possible as the tab is lower. that doesnt go against my daily total of $50 anyway

spend whats left at dinner

brekkie is the most expensive meal out there - especially for what you get at most hotels for $10-15. FS buffets are $20 - a ripoff.

I will grab coffee at the hotel lobby and find food someplace else

I agree with you 100% on this... well maybe 95%, since I also find the "no resorts" policy to be absurd and even somewhat insulting to their highest elite customers. Hilton resorts would comp the full breakfast buffet for Golds at resorts.

oh don't get me wrong - I completely understand the angst out there which is why MI has other brands in the same space but to say the brand is failing isn't correct nor valid, nor does the angst validate it, there are many travs out there who are not given a per diem and who find the brand fits their needs very well - the brand is Marriott's largest is/has under gone a great shift over the past 3 years - the fact remains that it will not fit the needs of some guests (myself included)....again there are many brands throughout our economy playing in the same market space and owned by the same company, some of those brands work for me - others dont but those brands that dont are often successful but other times the aren't.....MI hasn't yet failed in branding and I dont see them coming close anytime soon

yes GSA rules have certainly changed over the past decade or so...not sure if the GSA is this strict but I can see it going this way....several states have rules saying the first and last day of a trip are only eligible to receive 50% of the M&IE per diem...so if you leave at 6am you get 50% to each 3 meals...ugh

Not sure of what you're saying; all I'm saying is that for a Marriott gold or plat, every Marriott brand except Courtyard includes breakfast (except at certain fs properties on the weekend and except for some resorts). Since the federal per diem is a flat rate no matter whether one pays for breakfast or not, Courtyard becomes the single most expensive choice to a government traveler. In other words, if a JW and a nearby CY are available at the government GSA rate, the CY is always the more expensive choice for the government Marriott gold or platinum traveler.

FYI: current GSA rules provide 75% per diem the first and last day of a trip.

Federal US Gov't PD is 75% on the first and last day of travel; if you leave at 10 p.m. you get 75% and make out; if you leave at 4 a.m. you lose. usually you are somewhere in between

Returning, if I get home (not land but arrive home) at 12:01 a.m. I get another free day of PD essentially as I can claim 75% for that extra day. If I get home at 11:59 p.m. I lose out as I've had as complete of a day as possible but only get 75%.

it all comes out in the wash.

where I work if you are provided a free meal you are to deduct it off of your daily per diem. Exceptions to this rule are b/f provided by hotels among others.

No matter what, the CY is the most costly choice I can make within the Marriott chain. Needless to say if one looks at over the 800 lifetime nights I have, <20 are in CY's.

FWIW - I don't think anyone has said the brand is failing, so nice sideways on that. :rolleyes:

Screw the per diem. There are travelers out there who are not on per diems who still find it strange that this is the ONLY brand that Marriott doesn't offer free breakfasts.

But let's get past that & try & spin this - WHY does Marriott NOT offer points for incidental spend at CYs? What's the rationale/unique proposition for that?

Haven't seen you answer that one.

Besides the brekkie not being free issue, the non-incidental spend is a biggie for me, and thus the ONLY way I will stay at a CY is a) if it's the cheapest option out there or b) absolutely so near something I need to be at & there is no other Marriott option out there.

Obviously elites will stay at CYs if it works with their budget, but they're not doing it because they're expecting anything else. Again, both Marriott's other competitors - HGI & SHS - offer more. @:-)

I'm guessing Marriott's strategy at this point is 'let's rope in the non-elites who think they're getting a great deal & will be pathetically grateful if we have a bistro & don't realize they're not getting much more than they can get elsewhere & even less'. :rolleyes:

Cheers.

+1

Although I would like to get a free breakfast, my bigger issue with the new Bistro is that I can no longer get breakfast fast, and the buffet provided more variety and healthy options (without paying extra). As a business traveler, I need something fast and healthy, but my travel budget doesn't allow me to buy oatmeal, banana, yogurt, eggs, and coffee individually. Breakfast may be my only balanced meal of a busy day.