Marriott - Breakfast Policy Changes for Gold / Plat?
 

Hi folks, first time poster... long time lurker on these forums. I've been platinum with marriott for several years now but on heading down to breakfast at the Marriott portsmouth (uk) today was told i'm no longer entitled to my free hot breakfast. The front desk said all Marriotts were changing to a new policy where on check in you can pick between your points bonus or free continental breakfast vouchers.

Has anyone else heard of this? I know that at courtyards you dont get free breakfast at all but for these past 3 years i've been using their two hotels in portsmouth UK and getting free cooked breakfasts, to be downgraded to rabbit food was a bit... well... disapointing.

Get corporate involved. The terms and conditions for benefits were last changed on March 6, 2014 online, and that wasn't one of the changes.

The check-in agent was mistaken. As a Plat you do get a choice of an amenity which would be about $10 toward purchases charged to your room or the bonus points.

The free breakfast is guaranteed and not part of the arrival amenity. But the check-in agent was correct in that Marriott only stipulates a free continental breakfast. Usually, if the hotel has a lounge, lounge access will get you that free breakfast. If they don't (or the lounge is closed on weekends or certain days) then they still have to provide you that breakfast in their restaurant (or in some similar fashion.)

Some hotels might offer a full hot breakfast, but they don't have to. Some may offer you the full hot breakfast for a small upcharge. Some may not do either. That is their choice.

Before I got Corporate involved, I'd ask to talk with a manager or another agent as it could be just a mis-trained agent. If you still have problems with the hotel honoring the elite benefits, then I would call Plat Customer Service and get them involved.

Also, check out the http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...-weekends.html sticky thread at the top of this forum. I do believe that it has been reported that this hotel will offer a full breakfast, but that was before this amenity change. But I'd ask about getting a full breakfast as a different, better trained agent or manager, might offer that.

Were you heading "down to breakfast" at the hotel restaurant when the executive lounge was open? If so, it's true you are not entitled to breakfast at the restaurant.

As others have noted, two different Platunum benefits are being confused here. The current rules became effective June 22, 2013. Although there may have been slight wording changes, the rules have not changed.

from http://www.marriott.com/rewards/memb...ts/platinum.mi
At U.S. full service properties, that normally means a choice between 500 points or a $10 USD voucher toward a food and beverage purchase.
Most full service properties where I've stayed offered some hot items, not just continental breakfast. But hot food is not guaranteed, either in the lounge or the restaurant (if the lounge is closed).

As Sharon posted back on July 23:

See details in #4 under the heading Additional Platinum and Gold Membership Benefits: in the T&C found here.

Nothing mentioned about continental breakfast in Europe though, and that is the only differentiation between US/CA and Europe so that would imply full breakfast since continental was not specifically stated. I would press the issue with the hotel and/or Platinum Guest Services.

As aaupgrade notes, I was given the heads up re: the change to the policy by another FTer about a week ago. I updated the exec lounge sticky & posted a heads up in the long thread re: the breakfast change last year. No idea when Marriott slipped it into the T&Cs below, but think it's recent. And typical Marriott they didn't amend the T&Cs re: lounge access/breakfast in a different part of the T&Cs.

4. Guaranteed Concierge/Executive/Club Lounge Access* for Platinum and Gold Elite members plus one guest at JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection®, Renaissance® and Marriott® Hotels during normal hours of operations. Continental breakfast is available 7 days a week. For JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection®, Renaissance® and Marriott® Hotels in the U.S. and Canada: any time the Lounge isn’t open, Platinum and Gold Elite members are entitled to a choice of continental breakfast for two in the restaurant or 750 points daily.

In Europe, hotels without a lounge offer a choice of breakfast for two in the restaurant or 750 points daily.

A limited number of hotels in the U.S. do not provide free continental breakfast in the hotel restaurant in the event the lounge is closed, but do offer 1,000 points in lieu of breakfast.

* At JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection®, Renaissance® and Marriott Hotels® (resorts excluded)

Since the policy doesn't say continental breakfast in the T&Cs you might be able to argue that you're entitled to a full brekkie, but my guess is the internal policy noted points or cont'l brekkie to make it consistent w/ the US/Canada property. Note the new breakfast policy is only for European properties without lounges.

As with all things Marriott, especially in new policy situations, there is confusion. The brekkie/points is separate from the Platinum arrival gift. We still get occasional reports in the US of FDCs confusing the two. I wouldn't expect Europe to be any different.

Cheers.

I've only had that offer when we've stayed in the Crystal City in Arlington last month. We were in the Glasgow Marriott in April and the only option we got offered was the free breakfast in the restaurant (full buffet) which we were more than happy with as OH likes his brekkie in the mornings.

Curious if people have had recent experience with the Member +1 stipulation. The last FS I checked into w/o lounge access asked how many were in my party (2 rooms,7 people of which 5 were kids) and gave me vouchers for all of us. Have a stay this w/e at a FS Marriott with 5 of us and might switch to the FI for the free breakfast instead (same rate, 1 mile of each other) if they are indeed just offering +1. (Which is within their rights...I never ask for more) (US STAY)

Breakfast means whatever the property calls breakfast. You can argue anything you want, but if they put out rolls and jam, that's breakfast.

I'm not convinced. Starwood defines what should be included in its continental breakfast for elites in lieu of their arrival amenity points, so I would expect Marriott to do the same and set minimum standards (possibly depending on the brand) for breakfasts offered to elites.

This is a recent change: July, so what you experienced in April at the Glasgow Marriott may no longer be the case. I'm hoping FTers will update the exec lounge sticky. I've already updated Portsmouth to reflect the downgrade.

Cheers.

I stayed with 3 kids at Crystal City Marriott back in April and it was from Thursday to Sunday, the FD saw me with the kids and she said that they only give 2 vouchers per room, so she said that I'd better off take the points unless I want to pay for it. I think I add that into the sticky, so you might want to check that for the hotel you are going to stay at and check their policy.

It varies per property. Best thing is to check the exec lounge sticky to see if there are any reports and/or call the property.

Cheers.

Isn't breakfast in Europe a continental breakfast by definition?