Platinum Breakfast
Jul 26, 2009 | 7:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: Marriott Platinum Premier, UA 1K
Posts: 375
Platinum Breakfast
I just stayed at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott for a Sat night, 3 rooms, 2 booked on points, 1 booked via free night visa cert. At check in, we were denied breakfast vouchers,stating they were no longer offering the free breakfast to Platinums, even though the concierge lounge was closed. I called the Platinum Premier line, and they were unable to help. I figured this was just another cut back, but when I checked online today, the free breakfast is still listed as a benefit when the lounge is closed. We skipped breakfast.
Anyone experience this? Is there a way to get compensation after the fact?
Anyone experience this? Is there a way to get compensation after the fact?
Jul 26, 2009 | 7:31 pm
#2
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,775
Actually, the free breakfast benefit is only for weeknight stays, not weekend. Since your stay was for a Saturday night, the hotel does not have to provide you with any type of breakfast.
Cut and pasted from the T&Cs: "Guaranteed Concierge/Executive Club Lounge* access applies to regular hours of operation at Marriott hotels, JW Marriott hotels and Renaissance hotels worldwide. For Marriott hotels, JW Marriott hotels or Renaissance hotels without a Concierge/Executive Club Lounge or if the Lounge is closed, the guest is entitled to receive a free Healthy Start Breakfast, Monday through Friday."
The above text can be found on Marriott Rewards Terms & Conditions
Cut and pasted from the T&Cs: "Guaranteed Concierge/Executive Club Lounge* access applies to regular hours of operation at Marriott hotels, JW Marriott hotels and Renaissance hotels worldwide. For Marriott hotels, JW Marriott hotels or Renaissance hotels without a Concierge/Executive Club Lounge or if the Lounge is closed, the guest is entitled to receive a free Healthy Start Breakfast, Monday through Friday."
The above text can be found on Marriott Rewards Terms & Conditions
Jul 26, 2009 | 7:33 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: Marriott Platinum Premier, UA 1K
Posts: 375
Thanks for the quick response. Good thing I didn't make a stink about it. I was uncertain, so just left it as is.
Jul 26, 2009 | 7:37 pm
#4
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,775
Whats really unfortunate is that a number of Marriott hotels would still provide Plats with breakfast coupons for weekend stays up until earlier this year. Marriott Corp told the hotels to stop doing that and to stick more closely to the exact rules and not "overachieve". 
Jul 26, 2009 | 7:52 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Central New Jersey (EWR, ABE, PHL)
Programs: Marriott LT Plat,SW, Hertz #1 Gold, Amtrak SP, jetBlue, et al
Posts: 953
shoot...the PHL marriott doesn't even have free internet in the CL...or anyplace...i couldn't even book a ressie in another marriott nor could i pull up a SEPTA schedule......
the only good thing about that place is the airport view, and two of the shuttle drivers (who took me places OTHER than the a/p...SHHHHHHHH
I was there when the lounge was open...let me tell you, you didn't miss anything! VERY slim pickings...and the attendant basically talked on her cell phone-as did the one in the PHL Ren
the only good thing about that place is the airport view, and two of the shuttle drivers (who took me places OTHER than the a/p...SHHHHHHHH
I was there when the lounge was open...let me tell you, you didn't miss anything! VERY slim pickings...and the attendant basically talked on her cell phone-as did the one in the PHL Ren
Jul 26, 2009 | 10:48 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2004
Programs: AA-exp, 4MM, MR-plat, Hertz-PC, WN-CP
Posts: 423
The Paris Rive Gauche handled the new policy by giving us (family of 5 in two rooms, which were upgraded no charge to basically a 2 bed room suite facing the city) half off breakfast during the weekend. We used the deal on Sat. Of course free is better, but I do want Marriott to stay in business. If the Corp. policy in not to provide breakfast than the Rive Gauche made it win-win. They probably didn't make much money on our breakfast and we didn't feel terribly ripped off.
Jul 26, 2009 | 11:00 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 87
i would be interested if at the end of the day, who keeps most of the profits made from guest stays. Marriot corp or the hotel owners. If its the owners, then its quite obvious that the anger should be directed at the owners for being stingy.
Jul 27, 2009 | 6:15 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
The Paris Rive Gauche handled the new policy by giving us (family of 5 in two rooms, which were upgraded no charge to basically a 2 bed room suite facing the city) half off breakfast during the weekend. We used the deal on Sat. Of course free is better, but I do want Marriott to stay in business. If the Corp. policy in not to provide breakfast than the Rive Gauche made it win-win. They probably didn't make much money on our breakfast and we didn't feel terribly ripped off.
Jul 27, 2009 | 11:07 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium (former PP), Hilton Silver, UA Silver, AS Member, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,906
Well, there is this thing called a recession, which has caused travel to drop. Marriott's decision to cut back on benefits to elite members was to help out the hotel owners by reducing operating costs. Of course, it has the effect of annoying/angering many elite members, which could be detrimental in the long run.
Jul 27, 2009 | 12:08 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MIA
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC, Delta PM, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,031
The PHL airport Marriott has really went downhill. The lounge used to have smoked salmon and other cheese last year in the morning with good choices in the evening. Now it's horrible, very picked over, no salmon but a few eggs and cereals (oatmeal).
Jul 27, 2009 | 12:20 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2004
Programs: AA-exp, 4MM, MR-plat, Hertz-PC, WN-CP
Posts: 423
Yes, the lounge was available during the weekend for basics. They had the three jars of chips/pre-wrapped cookies out also, although sadly it never took long for those with access to strip the room of all these items. Seems like they did some monitoring of the supplies over the weekend, but on occasion it looked like it could use a little help.
Jul 27, 2009 | 6:07 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CHARLOTTE
Programs: AA , Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platnium,Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 246
Hi That hasnt been my experience I have been to several hotels in the past few weeks that have given breakfast vouchers on weekends when the lounge was closed..in fact the Las Vegas marriott even advertises it on there web site.
Jul 27, 2009 | 6:13 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium (former PP), Hilton Silver, UA Silver, AS Member, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,906
I'm guessing the Vegas property got an exemption from the Marriott memo due to competitive reasons (occupancy in Vegas is down across the board and free food in Sin City is fairly common).
Jul 27, 2009 | 8:15 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,034
The Paris Rive Gauche handled the new policy by giving us (family of 5 in two rooms, which were upgraded no charge to basically a 2 bed room suite facing the city) half off breakfast during the weekend. We used the deal on Sat. Of course free is better, but I do want Marriott to stay in business. If the Corp. policy in not to provide breakfast than the Rive Gauche made it win-win. They probably didn't make much money on our breakfast and we didn't feel terribly ripped off.
Well, there is this thing called a recession, which has caused travel to drop. Marriott's decision to cut back on benefits to elite members was to help out the hotel owners by reducing operating costs. Of course, it has the effect of annoying/angering many elite members, which could be detrimental in the long run.
I was at the Rive Gauche earlier this year. Got charged for breakfast over the weekend. I think it was 32 Euros (for one). Man who checked me out was entirely too gleeful in saying he couldn't do anything about the charge.
Contacted the hotel a day later, they said that they are going to cut the cost in half for the breakfasts from now on. Never offered to give me anything in return.
I agree with an earlier poster, Marriott should make money, but when you water everything down, you lose more money in the long run.
Jul 27, 2009 | 8:24 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Programs: Marriott lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum
Posts: 5,485
Please help us out. Which properties gave you elite breakfast vouchers on the weekend when the lounge was closed (other than the LV Marriott)?