Marriott Elite Breakfast Policy Under Fire
Welcome to the circus that is the current Marriott Elite Breakfast Policy. More and more Marriott hotels are doing a disappearing act with their promised breakfast perks for elite members. Frustrating? Absolutely. So, what can you do when your morning croissant vanishes? Grab a coffee, sit tight, and let’s dive in.
How Marriott Hotels Are Toying with Elite Breakfasts
Marriott Bonvoy’s breakfast policy for its elite members is already a complex web of confusion, depending on the brand, location, and sometimes even the day of the week. As if that wasn’t enough, now we have hotels that are blatantly ignoring the rules. Once upon a time, this wasn’t common, but post-pandemic, certain properties are pushing the boundaries, and it’s frankly out of control.
A pattern is emerging where some hotels claim their restaurants are run by third parties, hence no elite breakfast. Sound fishy? That’s because it is. They have no qualms marketing these restaurants or bundling them with room packages. When it’s convenient, they’re suddenly part of the hotel. Coincidence? Hardly.
What’s even more aggravating is when hotels entirely nix the breakfast benefit while admitting their restaurant is right there in the lobby:
- The St. Regis Macao has eliminated elite breakfast, offering just a discount instead.
- The Aloft Dublin replaced their free breakfast with a scanty credit, all while pretending this was what customers wanted.
Do Marriott Bonvoy Members Have Any Options?
So, what’s an elite member to do? Take one reader’s plight: he’s planted at a new Marriott gem in Tel Aviv, itching for his Platinum breakfast perk. Instead, he’s greeted with points and a smile. When he reached out to Marriott, they shrugged him off. Understandably peeved, he turned to me for help. Spoiler alert: this hotel isn’t shy about selling breakfast-inclusive rates. Odd, right?
But lo and behold, as soon as an elite member politely demands their rightful breakfast, the restaurant poof! disappears. “We actually don’t have a restaurant,” they claim. Really now? These hotels want all the perks of the Marriott badge but shy away from keeping promises. In classic hotel style, the restaurant remains off the Marriott website yet flaunts itself elsewhere. Sly or just sloppy?
With Marriott practically playing referee for a one-man game, elite members are left floundering. Do they not realize this could bite them back? The more this charade continues, the more other properties might hop on the bandwagon. It’s like opening a box of chocolates only to find raisins inside.
Wrapping Up
As things stand, a rising number of Marriott hotels are successfully playing hooky on the breakfast benefit they owe elite members. Faced with this negligence, Bonvoy members find their options thin. Publicly grilling these hotels, leaving bad reviews, and speaking with their wallets are the only tools left. But really, is this the grand plan?
Marriott staying silent may just embolden hotels looking for easy cost-cutting measures. What’s next? Charging for towels? Either these hotels honor their breakfast promises, or we swap our waffle wish-list for a less dicey destination. Perhaps it’s time to consider a serene getaway to Val Seny ski resort for a sure thing.
Your thoughts on this Marriott breakfast saga?