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This doesn’t have to be so difficult. Hyatt consistently delivers free breakfasts to Globalist members and does not have the complicated rules that Marriott makes guests wade through in order to figure out if they’re starting the day with a meal on the house. Free breakfast is one of the perks that makes many Marriott Bonvoy® members strive to maintain elite status. Many Marriott brands offer higher-level elites (Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador) complimentary breakfasts except for when they don’t. Hotels continue to try to game the system (I called out and created some drama for the St. Regis Chicago, which eventually made it honor program rules) and now there are several others not following the rules or finding ways for Marriott to make exceptions, which is even worse. Marriott seems to be turning a blind eye or condoning these “exceptions” and it really is up to guests to speak with their wallets and book away from properties that don’t honor what elite members have earned.
St. Regis is one of my favorite Marriott brands. I am excited about upcoming stays at the St. Regis Rome and St. Regis Bal Harbour next week. One nice thing about the brand is that Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite members can select breakfast as a welcome amenity. This always made St. Regis stand out from The Ritz-Carlton and EDITION hotels that do not offer breakfast. These meals are generally pricey at the hotels and this benefit makes for a truly great start to the day. Last month, the St. Regis Macao started telling guests that complimentary breakfast is no longer an option and it seems like this might be okay with Marriott.
The message is not hidden and the hotel is openly telling elite members that this benefit is being cut: As of March 1, 2025, welcome gifts for Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador Marriott Bonvoy® Elite Members have been changed to a choice of bonus points or a local amenity. Platinum and above Elite Members can also enjoy a discounted price for breakfast at the Manor. Free breakfast is gone.
The Aloft Dublin City is also trying to screw elite members out of breakfast. The funniest part is that it acts like this is something that members wanted. The hotel stopped offering breakfast as a welcome amenity and instead, it’s offering either a €10 credit per night or 500 Marriott Bonvoy® points. Breakfast at the hotel costs around €20 per person, so this is not cutting it.
Perhaps worst of all, on Friday Award Wallet reported that four properties have been added to a list that no longer have to offer a breakfast amenity. When a hotel has a lounge, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite members are generally granted access (some hotels have found loopholes here as well, but this is generally the case). When the lounge is closed, members get 1,000 points and breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant. This policy will not apply to these four properties:
- Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
- JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square
- Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
- Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
When these lounges are closed, elite members get nothing. This is not acceptable and once exceptions are made for a small list, it grows until every property skirts benefits and Marriott Bonvoy® becomes further devalued. I generally choose points when I travel on business and many times on leisure stays as well. I either don’t have the time or the appetite (I’m not one that normally eats breakfast at home). But, I have earned status and as a result should be receiving the benefits that were promised to me. This includes free breakfast and it’s just wrong when this is removed without substitution.
Anthony’s Take: Marriott has been catering to its hotel owners for some time. As hotels play games with breakfast benefits, it’s up to Marriott Bonvoy® members to boycott those hotels and take their business elsewhere. I’ll never stay at the St. Regis Chicago. As other hotels make the list, I’ll be sure to not spend any money there either.
(Image Credits: Marriott.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
4 comments
Is there a reliable single website to check whether a hotel honors breakfast or not? We really need that, though I don’t see a real-world way to accomplish it.
IME at Residence Inn class Marriott hotels, the free breakfast is usually worth what you pay for it. It gets the job done, but is otherwise very forgettable. Courtyards haven’t had a free breakfast for awhile and the available bistro choices are unappealing to me.
I’d rather pay to get decent meals instead of free mediocre ones.
We will join you. Please keep the names of the hotels that play these games coming so we know where not to stay!