gj83

Embassy Suites are the only free breakfast properties I've been to that really patrol it.

My coworker would meet me at a Hampton to pick me up and she'd grab coffee.

MisterNice

At least half of the managers reception attendees at the Dorado Del Mar Puerto Rico ES are locals related to the ES employees and many are there mucho times a week with their numerous obnoxious kids.

MisterNice

Points Scrounger

I guess it's considered an "employee benefit"?

(see also: DL Biz Elite and NRSA's)

Points Surfer

I've seen freeloaders at many of the Hotels offering freebies. I frequent HIX's more than Hamptons but sometimes its a few people to a lot and I've never seen ID asked for anywhere. At the HIX Flint Michigan 10+ locals would hang out in the lobby lounge all day watching TV, drinking free coffee so it does get out of hand if Management is poor.

maltasr

I've also have seen interlopers get into the Concierge Lounge at Marriotts for the evening cocktail time. They go right for the "Honor Bar" and fill their glass to the brim repeatedly with the very best stuff, ie Chivas Regal or Johnny Walker Black without filling out and depositing a card. In most cases the employees working in there know what's going on, but they're just too timid to challenge the uninvited guest. In addition, the interloper will usually take an extra full glass of spirits with them when they leave. IMHO I've always believed that if you make it too easy for people to cheat, they will cheat.

gt_croz

I'm surprised no one has brought this up...

Why on earth would anyone WANT to steal a Hampton free breakfast?

2001racer

I would never do it now but when I was 21 or so and had no money... A Saturday morning or two might have found me with Hampton waffle...

Not right but I'm just sayin'

Companycar

I have seen that several times once this guy ate breakfast and even camped out at the lobby computer for an hour and then when I went to charge my Cell Phone near him the guy snapped at me asking what I was doing.

pinniped

I've never seen an outright (obvious) "guy off the street" pilfering a Hampton breakfast. Most Hamptons I've ever stayed in tend to be near a freeway and a string of other similar hotels that have their own similar breakfasts.

But I've never paid close attention either... To echo the previous post, we almost always repack the car before breakfast so I'm sure someone has thought under his breath "here come some freeloaders".

I've utilized the WiFi services offered in hotel lobbies many, many times. Usually not Hamptons - I tend to do this more often at urban hotels. To me that's different: they offer it for free in the lobby without any requirement to actually stay there. If I'm hanging out using it for a while, chances are I'm also ordering a drink from the lobby bar, but I don't feel obligated to.

I've stayed in those combined properties before - HGI + Homewood, Res Inn + Courtyard, or HI + HIX - and sort of wondered what the etiquette was about crossing into the other building for breakfast purposes. I've never done it myself...

ESPECIALROB

Here's a topical thread I started in February 2007 - check it out -

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...st-buffet.html

JDiver

I have seen a variety of folks freeload drinks and food at hotels on occasion, but the most egregious instance remains clear in my mind.

A few years ago, a number of people freeloaded breakfast at the Embassy Suites I was staying in shall we say, "back east". I was able to tell because the freeloaders were all uniformed police officers, and their patrol vehicles were all parked outside. I was told this was a daily occurrence (apparently with an assenting hotel management and a definite lack of ethics -wonder what the expected quid pro quo was?).

CMK10

It's funny you make this post, my Dad was asking me the same thing last month after he stayed at one.

I will admit that a few years ago when I worked for Enterprise, if I was doing a hotel pick up and my customer was late, I would occasionally sneak a little something for me to eat. But I did it at all hotel chains, so the damage was spread equally

jamesteroh

LOL I was wondering the same thing

travelinfoo

Me too, esp after my last stay. The brekkie stuck w/me the whole day. It was Ok the first time but not subsequently . . .

Watchful

Remember the scene in UP IN THE AIR...

Crashing the trade show and just picking up the guest badges and making the rounds.