There are a variety of valuable perks to having elite status with a hotel group. Historically one of the most valuable benefits has been complimentary breakfast, at least for those belonging to higher elite tiers.
In 2021, Hilton Honors made a controversial change to its elite breakfast policy. Specifically, at properties in the United States, Hilton stopped giving elite members complimentary breakfast, instead replacing that with a daily food & beverage credit. While this was initially marketed as being temporary, all signs point toward this sticking around. In this post I wanted to take a closer look at how exactly this benefit works.
In this post:
Details of Hilton Honors elite food & beverage credit
Historically Hilton Honors Diamond and Hilton Honors Gold have received complimentary continental breakfast as an elite benefit at all hotel brands that don’t offer it for free, which is one of the primary benefits of having hotel elite status (note that some hotels go above and beyond, and offer a full hot breakfast).
However, since July 2021, this is no longer the policy at properties in the United States. Specifically, at hotels in the United States, elite guests are instead offered a daily food & beverage credit. At the time, Hilton marketed this change as being a limited time response to a request from guests for more flexibility. 
How does the Hilton food & beverage credit work?
How exactly does the Hilton Honors food & beverage credit work? Here are the basic things to be aware of:
- The credit is per person, for up to two registered guests per room; people have varying experiences as to whether they can get the credit for two people if they’re booking a room for two guests but staying alone
- This credit applies at many brands, including Waldorf Astoria, LXR, Conrad, Canopy by Hilton, Hilton, Curio Collection, DoubleTree, Signia, Tapestry Collection, and Hilton Garden Inn
- The credit is valid for all participating food & beverage outlets at a hotel, including restaurants, bars, markets, and room service; it can be used in one or multiple transactions
- Hilton Honors members can simply charge food & beverage purchases to their folio, and then the charges will be manually removed; there’s nothing that needs to be done when you visit the actual outlet
- The credit needs to be used on a daily basis, and the value can’t be rolled over to the next day
- The amount of the food & beverage credit varies depending on the brand and location
- Hilton Honors Gold members have the option to either receive points or a food & beverage credit, while Hilton Honors Diamond members will receive both
- If you’re staying at a hotel with a club lounge that serves breakfast and you receive access to it, then you don’t receive the food & beverage credit
- If you book a rate that includes breakfast, you can still receive the food & beverage credit as an elite perk
How much is the Hilton food & beverage credit?
The Hilton Honors daily food & beverage credit varies by hotel brand and market. Specifically, Hilton Honors members receive a daily food & beverage credit for a maximum of two registered guests per room, as follows:
- $25 per person per day for luxury brands, including Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, and LXR
- $15 per person per day for full service and lifestyle brands ($18 in high-cost markets), including Hilton, Signia, DoubleTree, Curio, Tapestry Collection, Canopy, and Motto
- $10 per person per day for Hilton Garden Inn
The high-cost markets include Boston, Chicago, the District of Columbia, New York City, San Francisco, the county of Los Angeles, the state of Hawaii, Key Largo, and Key West.
Is the Hilton food & beverage credit good or bad news?
In an ideal world, hotels would offer a credit big enough to cover breakfast for two people with flexibility to use it elsewhere, but I think it’s safe to say that this isn’t what Hilton is going for here. Make no mistake about what’s going on:
- The credit amounts are nowhere near large enough to cover a “proper” breakfast at a vast majority of properties in the United States
- By offering a credit that has to be used daily, Hilton is hoping that this will drum up business at hotels’ food & beverage outlets, and cause people to spend more than they otherwise would (above and beyond the food & beverage credit amount)
Whether or not this is good or bad news really depends on which hotel you’re staying at and what your travel habits are:
- Before this change, there was huge variance in terms of the elite breakfast offered across hotels — at some properties you received a full breakfast, while at other properties you received a coffee and a croissant, so the implications here aren’t equally bad at all properties
- As a morning person I always have breakfast, while I know plenty of people who don’t even wake up in time for breakfast, and therefore found the old breakfast benefit to be useless, and like the new system
- Some hotels unofficially offered daily credits in place of breakfast for a long time before this was implemented, so this wasn’t even totally new across the board; for example, the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills has long offered Diamond members a $50 daily credit per room in lieu of a formal breakfast benefit
For those who value breakfast as an elite perk, I think it’s safe to say that Hilton Honors has the weakest offering in the United States of the major hotel groups:
- World of Hyatt Globalist members receive a full restaurant breakfast when there’s not an executive lounge
- IHG One Rewards Diamond members receive a full restaurant breakfast
- Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, Titanium, and Platinum members have the option of selecting continental breakfast as their welcome amenity at most brands
Is Hilton’s elite food & beverage credit permanent?
When the elite food & beverage credit was first introduced in 2021, it was marketed as a temporary feature. In the context of the pandemic, it sort of made sense:
- At the time, many people didn’t necessarily feel comfortable dining indoors in restaurants, so the flexibility was valuable
- Many hotels had shut down some of their food & beverage venues, and many weren’t serving breakfast
However, from the beginning I predicted that the motive went way beyond that. The credit was first extended into 2022, and now into 2023, with no mention anymore of this being limited time.
This is pretty clearly part of a bigger long term change at Hilton, intended to cut costs. Hilton’s CEO has made it clear that many hotel service cuts are permanent, and that hotels will become higher margin businesses. This new food & beverage credit helps to reduce costs (fewer people are having breakfast) and increase revenue (people are spending more at Hiltons while utilizing their food & beverage credit).
I’d be willing to bet that these changes will stick around in the United States permanently. The big question is if they expand globally or not. Personally I don’t see that as being particularly likely for now.
That comes down to a couple of factors:
- Free breakfast and a higher level of service continue to be more of an expectation outside of the United States than within the United States
- Hotel owners outside the United States don’t seem quite as greedy and cutthroat as the companies that own many hotels in the United States
Bottom line
Nowadays Hilton Honors Diamond and Gold members receive a daily food & beverage credit in lieu of complimentary continental breakfast at properties in the United States. That credit ranges from $10 to $25 per person per day, depending on the market.
While this was initially marketed as being temporary, I suspect this program is here to stay, as it’s a great way for hotels to reduce their breakfast costs while generating more revenue, as people probably pretty consistently spend more than their credit when visiting outlets at a hotel.
What do you make of Hilton Honors’ elite food & beverage credit concept?
Hilton’s new breakfast policy is a big takeaway period. No need to say anything more other than I’m looking to take my business elsewhere.
Want to be sure I understand this correctly.
I have booked (and paid extra for) a club-level room at the Arizona Biltmore (Waldorf Astoria). I am Gold level. The club provides is open in the morning and provides breakfast. Should I expect that I will not receive any daily F&B credit? If that's the case, it sounds like I should opt for the 1,000 bonus points - right? Thanks for any thoughts.
Mixed feelings...
We used to enjoy the free breakfast, however the credit per day has its pluses..
If we don't have time to eat, we use the credit for items from the snack bar, ie munchies for travel
As a Hilton Honors Diamond member who stays at Hilton group hotels primarily in Europe and Asia at least 80 nights a year, the free breakfast is a major perk that keeps me loyal to Hilton. If this is eliminated in favor of the “credit” system now being used in the U.S., my Diamond status will become much less appealing to me and I will no longer default to a Hilton hotel when I travel...
As a Hilton Honors Diamond member who stays at Hilton group hotels primarily in Europe and Asia at least 80 nights a year, the free breakfast is a major perk that keeps me loyal to Hilton. If this is eliminated in favor of the “credit” system now being used in the U.S., my Diamond status will become much less appealing to me and I will no longer default to a Hilton hotel when I travel and it will cost them significantly. I have read that Hilton will be taking many benefits away from their most loyal customers, which runs counter to the whole purpose of the Honors program and will ultimately be damaging to the brand in the long run.
Up until now, I have always found Hilton Honors to be the most generous hotel program, but sadly it appears that is changing. A few years ago, I gave up on chasing Elite status with multiple airlines when the value of your miles got eroded so massively. It looks like I may have to do the same with hotels too…
During a one-night stay at Hilton's Porter Hotel in Portland, I was informed of the $15 food & beverage credit. I used it that night to get a mocktail at the rooftop bar.
The next day I was surprised to see the charge on my room. I called the hotel and they removed the drink charge ($6) but not the tip.
Not sure why but after two more calls to the hotel and one call...
During a one-night stay at Hilton's Porter Hotel in Portland, I was informed of the $15 food & beverage credit. I used it that night to get a mocktail at the rooftop bar.
The next day I was surprised to see the charge on my room. I called the hotel and they removed the drink charge ($6) but not the tip.
Not sure why but after two more calls to the hotel and one call to the Hhonors program (where they just said "we can't help you; you have to call the hotel" I gave up.
As a very long term Hilton Honors guest, I am disappointed in this move by Hilton. Buffets save time and money for its' guests.
I may now be shifting alliance to Hyatt properties.
My next trip is to the Rome Cavaliers hotel. Very expensive and this will be interesting!
What happens where a Hilton property charges a resort fee that includes also daily credit? Is the Hilton Food and Beverage credit given in addition?
E.g Hilton San Francisco Union Square provide $25 daily credit per person, would a Gold Hilton member get an additional $18? In effect a daily credit of $43 per person?
It is cheap and pathetic on Hilton's part. I am lifetime diamond. I gave them loyalty, where is the loyalty in return? Give me the choice of what I want. Guests wanted it, they say. That's bunk. I certainly was never surveyed. Why has service in the USA with hotels and airlines continued to go down hill?
I initially posted the comment below wrongly under a comment by @Tyler. I meant to address this over-the-top by @crosscourt instead:
Lordy! How do you spell self-entitled ?! As they say, "Only in America!" It's true and it is getting outright pathetic.
Your comment, dripping with self-entitlement from imbibing too much kool-aid, is precisely why service offered by hotels and airlines in the US continues to go down hill.
How about just going to...
I initially posted the comment below wrongly under a comment by @Tyler. I meant to address this over-the-top by @crosscourt instead:
Lordy! How do you spell self-entitled ?! As they say, "Only in America!" It's true and it is getting outright pathetic.
Your comment, dripping with self-entitlement from imbibing too much kool-aid, is precisely why service offered by hotels and airlines in the US continues to go down hill.
How about just going to the deli across the street, ordering what would satisfy your palate for breakfast and then going on about whatever business caused you to sleep in a hotel, instead of expecting to be pampered more than you are in your own home?!
Let's.get.real.
I'm sorry, but are you the same guy who feels entitled to upgrades and fights for them? And you're calling someone who wants the F&B credit that replaced breakfast to at least get close to paying for breakfast.
Find a mirror @DCS
This has also spread across the border to the Hilton Niagara Falls (Ontario side) and other locations in Canada. They are doing it very quietly...
Diamond for life member here. This policy is a money grab pure and simple. The fact that the mid level hotels give a credit that come just short of the cost of breakfast tells you everything. However, I had had multiple experiences where my flight dictated that I can't stick around for a hot breakfast I was able to use the F&B credit in the gift shop or at the Starbucks on property*. BTW- when...
Diamond for life member here. This policy is a money grab pure and simple. The fact that the mid level hotels give a credit that come just short of the cost of breakfast tells you everything. However, I had had multiple experiences where my flight dictated that I can't stick around for a hot breakfast I was able to use the F&B credit in the gift shop or at the Starbucks on property*. BTW- when you book your room just put down 2 guests, so you double your daily credit.
*Stayed in Orlando last week and the Starbucks on property did not allow you to use your credit. Ask first or you will get to have a semi heated conversation at the desk when you check out.
I’ve consistently been a HHonors Diamond for over a decade. I definitely do NOT like this change. A good breakfast is essential for me, and this change is a huge reduction in value.
I recently stayed at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square and the hotel buffet breakfast was $57 after the mandatory “service charge”, offset by an $18 F&B credit it was nearly $40/day against a company $100 per diem. The hotel directly...
I’ve consistently been a HHonors Diamond for over a decade. I definitely do NOT like this change. A good breakfast is essential for me, and this change is a huge reduction in value.
I recently stayed at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square and the hotel buffet breakfast was $57 after the mandatory “service charge”, offset by an $18 F&B credit it was nearly $40/day against a company $100 per diem. The hotel directly across the street had full ala carte breakfast offerings for around $24 with a 20% tip.
It’s not just 4-star properties in expensive cities that are charging a ridiculous price. I was recently at a Hilton Garden Inn in Austin, TX where the continental breakfast offering with an omelette station was $24 and F&B credit was only $10. $14/day against the per diem is less galling, but it’s still outrageous for continental breakfast in a city where you can get excellent breakfast tacos for $3 or less basically anywhere.
If Hilton properties weren’t charging utterly outrageous prices in conjunction with this change it might be acceptable, but as it is its insulting. I’ve actively considered switching to Marriott or IHG for my loyalty after staying exclusively with Hilton since 2004.
Lordy! How do you spell self-entitled ?! As they say, "Only in America!" It's true and it is getting outright pathetic.
Your comment, dripping with...
Lordy! How do you spell self-entitled ?! As they say, "Only in America!" It's true and it is getting outright pathetic.
Your comment, dripping with self-entitlement from imbibing too much kool-aid, is precisely why service offered by hotels and airlines in the US continues to go down hill.
How about just going to the deli across the street, ordering what would satisfy your palate for breakfast and then going on about whatever business caused you to sleep in a hotel, instead of expecting to be pampered more than you are in your own home?!
Let's.get.real.
I’m disappointed that this so-called temporary measure continues. $15 is ridiculous inadequate. Most of the hotels have raised the stay prices considerably. I track stays and miles and my plan is to only maintain diamond status every year. I’ll build status at other brands.
I will say that even though the credits don’t usually cover the cost of buffets, many hotels cover the cost anyway.
Another this is when checking in, getting acknowledged as a...
I’m disappointed that this so-called temporary measure continues. $15 is ridiculous inadequate. Most of the hotels have raised the stay prices considerably. I track stays and miles and my plan is to only maintain diamond status every year. I’ll build status at other brands.
I will say that even though the credits don’t usually cover the cost of buffets, many hotels cover the cost anyway.
Another this is when checking in, getting acknowledged as a Diamond member is getting rare. Also most do not have coffee available in the lobby. And the flagship named motels, the Hiltons, often have discontinued the executive lounges. This points to serious problems within the brand due to inconsistency.
I will be loyal to particular properties that treat me well, and I’d like to achieve lifetime Diamond status, but I will do more comparisons when searching for places to stay.
About breakfasts in general hotels in Europe do more.
Not to worry. If the past is any indication, continental breakfast will be reinstated at US hotels, largely thanks to the brouhaha around it generated by self-anointed "travel gurus". It does seem that Hilton tries to avoid "bad publicity" that can affect "its award-winning loyalty program", which is its proven cash cow.
I believe that we have self-anointed "travel gurus'" brouhaha similar to the one about...
Not to worry. If the past is any indication, continental breakfast will be reinstated at US hotels, largely thanks to the brouhaha around it generated by self-anointed "travel gurus". It does seem that Hilton tries to avoid "bad publicity" that can affect "its award-winning loyalty program", which is its proven cash cow.
I believe that we have self-anointed "travel gurus'" brouhaha similar to the one about the F&B vouchers to thank for the following positive changes:
__ Too many Hilton properties opted out of Hilton Honors global promos: since about 2017, no or very few Hilton properties (Hamptons in China) have been allowed to opt out of global promos.
__ HH Diamonds do not get suite upgrades: made moot in 2012 by a policy change that made unlimited complimentary suite upgrades a HH Diamonds benefit.
__ Free breakfast excluded as a benefit at WA: made moot by a policy change in 2018.
__ Top elite status given away for free: Enter LT Diamond as the program's highly exclusive and de facto "status above Diamond".
__ No 'confirmed' suite upgrades: Enter global automated upgrades that work like airline cabin upgrades and are (a) prioritized by elite status, (b) 'confirmed' automatically up to 72h before stay, and (c) automated such that they are potentially no longer at the discretion of each property.
Based on the preceding, I urge anyone who wishes to see continental breakfast to return to a Hilton hotel near them in the US to turn self-anointed "travel gurus'" brouhaha about the suspended benefit into an unbearable cacophony that Hilton Honors' top brass would want to make go away.
The self-anointed "Hilton guru's" premise here seems to be not to worry about things sucking, because maybe they won't suck eventually because of the influence of travel gurus.
Can't make it up.
"Unlimited free upgrades". Yep, that's been everyone's experience. Oh wait... lmao, it hasn't.
(Pretentious Heading)
To show why staying almost exclusively in overseas Hiltons is unhelpful in analyzing the competition in a "balanced" manner, one only need to consider that the vast readership of Travel Guru Ben is based in the U.S.
Self anointed Hilton Gurus don't even properly read the articles here, or they would've seen in giant font... straight from Hilton's website... that Diamonds at HGI get $10 Credit PP.
Speculating on how Ben and others...
(Pretentious Heading)
To show why staying almost exclusively in overseas Hiltons is unhelpful in analyzing the competition in a "balanced" manner, one only need to consider that the vast readership of Travel Guru Ben is based in the U.S.
Self anointed Hilton Gurus don't even properly read the articles here, or they would've seen in giant font... straight from Hilton's website... that Diamonds at HGI get $10 Credit PP.
Speculating on how Ben and others would've handled Hyatt switching to a credit based system is just that. I speculate that if Hilton took away free breakfast and credits altogether and across the board, DCS would try to spin it.
One thing is for sure: for someone saying the whole obsession with whose breakfast is best is silly, DCS is sure friggin obsessed with defending it.
And I almost spit out my milk at "hard earned points". Not to mention titling their breakfasts a "Royal Feast". How bizarre.
I only use points for leisure travel. Kind of earn the points in US and burn it abroad. There are very rare occasions I travel in US for leisure, and it stings, but doesn't affect me as much. If this is extended outside of US, then I'm leaving Hilton to another program. I mean night as well get status with another program that covers breakfast.
Parting Shot
To show, as one who redeems points almost exclusively for stays overseas, why I find the obsession with declaring a program's breakfast offering the "best" or "most generous", I am providing a link to photos of mouthwatering free full restaurant breakfast that I routinely get overseas, especially in Asia, and I refer to as "royal feast" [or maybe just to provide more 'appetizing' photos than those in the post]. Check them out...
Parting Shot
To show, as one who redeems points almost exclusively for stays overseas, why I find the obsession with declaring a program's breakfast offering the "best" or "most generous", I am providing a link to photos of mouthwatering free full restaurant breakfast that I routinely get overseas, especially in Asia, and I refer to as "royal feast" [or maybe just to provide more 'appetizing' photos than those in the post]. Check them out and call me in the morning if you've seen or (grin) had enough:
http://bit.ly/3Mer513
Bye bye!
Historically, Waldorf Astoria hotels were excluded from the Hilton Honors elite breakfast benefit. Hilton eventually expanded the perk to that brand in January 2018, but from the start, U.S. properties only offered a $15/guest credit (max $30/day). So the post-pandemic $25/guest credit at Waldorf Astoria is actually an improvement. But at all other brands, it's typically a step backward from the prior breakfast offering.
True, but WAs in Asia (WA Shanghai, first of many stays in 2013; WA Beijing, only stay in 2015) ignored the exclusion and offered Golds and Diamonds full restaurant breakfast.
I am almost certain that should F&B ever go global, most hotels in Asia will ignore it and keep offering...
True, but WAs in Asia (WA Shanghai, first of many stays in 2013; WA Beijing, only stay in 2015) ignored the exclusion and offered Golds and Diamonds full restaurant breakfast.
I am almost certain that should F&B ever go global, most hotels in Asia will ignore it and keep offering free full breakfast to remain competitive.
I’m currently at the Hotel Vetro a Tapestry Collection in Iowa City (no joy in
Mudville today) where the floor plan on the Hilton app is wrong ruining getting the room I wanted, and no knowledge or recognition that the Hilton App said my benefits were the $18 daily credit. Then the desk clerks shows me a sign saying they don’t follow the Brand requirements WTF.
Worse yet I find ants crawling around...
I’m currently at the Hotel Vetro a Tapestry Collection in Iowa City (no joy in
Mudville today) where the floor plan on the Hilton app is wrong ruining getting the room I wanted, and no knowledge or recognition that the Hilton App said my benefits were the $18 daily credit. Then the desk clerks shows me a sign saying they don’t follow the Brand requirements WTF.
Worse yet I find ants crawling around the bath tub. Report at front desk this morning. No resolution - ants still here when I return at 5 pm and no requested house keeping
I lost my Diamond Status Friday. Don’t regret. Can be a free agent !
If Hilton really wanted to "increase flexibility", then offer us a choice of either breakfast or the $10 credit
I have never been given the credit without contacting the hotel and reminding’ them that it was due. Very sad that this has happened. Status just does not mean that much anymore.
Yes, I stayed at the Doubletree Times Square this week as Hilton Gold. I was given $18 breakfast credit for buffet breakfast that costs $30. They never charged me the remaining $12. This is the second time this has happened. Maybe just me? So, been getting $30 breakfast free. Hey, if they manage to keep giving me free $30 breakfast could be good thing. Otherwise, would usually mean I just wanted to pay $12-$15 for bigger breakfast.
We stayed there years ago with two rooms and enjoyed the hell out of the free breakfast for 4 + child. And cookies!!
It freaking sucks. At the FLG garden inn, a below average breakfast is $15. at the FLG doubletree a decent breakfast is $18. Either one beats most sorry ass continental breakfasts in the area though.
Hi Ben,
I am not going to make a sarcastic remark that I usually do. On your pictures of hotels or in this case you have pictures of food, can you please state what hotel or restaurant the picture is coming from.
Thanks
Eggs are from hens.
Bacons are from pigs.
Steaks are from cattles.
Cocktails are from bartender.
Breads are from Jesus?
Courtesy of Stephen Au over at UPGRADEDPOINTS[1], below is a list of Hilton hotels around the world by brand and their numbers. Brands and numbers (first number in each row) that offer breakfast to all guests are bolded. Note also the numbers of countries in which all other brands are located (last number in each row)
Courtesy of Stephen Au over at UPGRADEDPOINTS[1], below is a list of Hilton hotels around the world by brand and their numbers. Brands and numbers (first number in each row) that offer breakfast to all guests are bolded. Note also the numbers of countries in which all other brands are located (last number in each row)
Total number of properties that offer breakfast to all the guests: 4,841.
There is all the information in that table to allow anyone to decide for themselves the magnitude of the F&B "problem" in the U.S.
Overall, a more balanced and fact-based presentation, if one takes out the largely speculative bit about whether the F&B vouchers will become permanent in the US. The answer at the moment is that no one knows outside of Hilton Honors' top brass.
It's YMMV, as some, including 2J.J below, prefer F&B vouchers. I have little doubt that had self-anointed "travel gurus" promoted the vouchers, e.g., for the "flexibility", which might have happened if Hyatt had proposed them, we would be bombarded with posts about what a superlative benefit it is. As turns out, Hilton's breakfast in the US has never been anything to write home about or get up for, which is why I have repeatedly registered my preference for F&B vouchers...in the US only. At least we have been spared the bogus "Hyatt has the most generous breakfast" claim.
[1] https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/hotels/hilton-hotel-brands/
[2] Cooked-to-Order Breakfast at HGI: Work travelers often want a hotel that makes everything convenient — that’s why Hilton Garden Inn properties provide a hot, cooked-to-order breakfast every morning. Breakfast is not complimentary for standard bookings, but those with Hilton Honors Gold or Diamond elite status do receive complimentary breakfast for themselves and 1 companion staying in the same room. -- UPGRADEDPOINTS.
It's definitely not YMMV.
For those who value "breakfast", if one can't even cover cost of breakfast it's obviously weakest since other chains do cover "breakfast".
Context here is "breakfast" is weakest not F&B, which yes is YMMV.
God save me as I just poke @DCS, who has a different take on words such as "guarantee", "valuation" or "lifetime" ;)
@Eskimo -- That is one interpretation. But it's still YMMV because I never cared much for free continental breakfast in the US when it was offered. I did not get up for it, so F&B vouchers are great for me as I use them to offset my bar tabs, since when travel domestically, it is almost always for business so I get reimbursed, which means that I can order anything I wish from full restaurant...
@Eskimo -- That is one interpretation. But it's still YMMV because I never cared much for free continental breakfast in the US when it was offered. I did not get up for it, so F&B vouchers are great for me as I use them to offset my bar tabs, since when travel domestically, it is almost always for business so I get reimbursed, which means that I can order anything I wish from full restaurant menus. BTW, I had free restaurant breakfast at InterContinental Chicago last November as a newly-minted IHG Diamond and it was so disappointing I did not bother getting up for it the last 3 mornings of the 4-night stay.
When I redeem my hard earned points, it's always overseas, where I get free full restaurant breakfast that is nothing short of a "royal feast" or, optionally, unlike WoH Globalists, I can have free continental in the exec lounge at properties that offer both. So, forgive me if this whole obsession with whose breakfast is "best" strikes me as very silly.
The "shame" really is on Hilton properties (other chains as well) in the US that make no effort to offer breakfast that is competitive with what's offered overseas. It is actually a pattern that can be seen even with US airlines' premium cabins vs. what foreign airlines offer.
Breakfast is no longer complimentary for Gold and Diamond at Hilton Garden Inns in the U.S. Post-pandemic, Hilton instead offers a $10/guest credit, which does not cover the typical $15-$18 cost of breakfast before tip. Nothing like nickel-and-diming loyal guests.
The credit scheme presents a somewhat greater devaluation at Hilton Garden Inn than at the other brands because:
1) HGI formerly provided complimentary hot breakfast, where other brands were only obligated to provide continental.
Breakfast is no longer complimentary for Gold and Diamond at Hilton Garden Inns in the U.S. Post-pandemic, Hilton instead offers a $10/guest credit, which does not cover the typical $15-$18 cost of breakfast before tip. Nothing like nickel-and-diming loyal guests.
The credit scheme presents a somewhat greater devaluation at Hilton Garden Inn than at the other brands because:
1) HGI formerly provided complimentary hot breakfast, where other brands were only obligated to provide continental.
2) HGI restaurants typically do not offer á la carte breakfast, but rather a prix fixe buffet and omelet station. So it's often not even possible to stay within the credit amount at breakfast time. By contrast, between the higher credit amount and á la carte options, guests at full service brands at least have option to keep within the credit.
@Mark -- The information I provided was posted at the cited source this February. It might well be outdated.
I do not recall ever staying at a HGI, but at the end of this month I will be staying at Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile (a mouthful!), and breakfast, which is usually decent, will be free for sure.
Embassy Suites and HGI both stopped providing free breakfast and now follow the F&B credit instead. Home2 is hit or miss on whether there is free breakfast, the only property brand that guarantees it is Hampton Inn.
Having been taken by surprise about the change at HGI, I checked Hilton Honors FAQs on 2023 Policy Changes:
Having been taken by surprise about the change at HGI, I checked Hilton Honors FAQs on 2023 Policy Changes:
Embassy Suites is still in but HGI is indeed out. I will report after I stay at Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile (a mouthful!).
HGV Hilton Grand Vacations are time shares and do not offer food and beverage credit. I’m staying at HGV waikaloa village in a few weeks. It was pricey (not by Hawaii standards ) but in general. At least with AMEX surpass and the HH gold status I will pick up 20-30k HH pts. And I’ll be in Hawaii :)))
I really enjoy the flexibility, especially when staying solo. Sometimes I fly out early or come in late so having the option is a great advantage for me and actually gets me to book more at Hilton now. I would make a couple of improvements: 1. Change the credit to match each night of the stay. Right now you can use the credit on check in or check out day for a single night stay...
I really enjoy the flexibility, especially when staying solo. Sometimes I fly out early or come in late so having the option is a great advantage for me and actually gets me to book more at Hilton now. I would make a couple of improvements: 1. Change the credit to match each night of the stay. Right now you can use the credit on check in or check out day for a single night stay but not both. It gets more confusing with multi-night stays. I would move the window to noon-noon, but realize this may be more complex with billing systems. The other change which should be possible now, is a way to view the current usage of the F&B credit on the app. I would think Hilton would want to do this so they could use it to drum up more business for their restaurant. The app should also list which places in the hotel accept the credit, as this also varies and I usually need to text the concierge to ask.