Hilton Honors has different elite benefits at different properties. There are many great things about the program, though one of my biggest frustrations is that they don’t offer elite members free breakfast at all of their brands.
Presently Hilton Honors Gold & Diamond members receive complimentary continental breakfast at Conrad, Curio, DoubleTree, Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, and Tapestry Collection properties. While the benefit is technically for continental breakfast, many hotels (especially those outside the US) offer elite members a full breakfast.
Furthermore, at Conrad, Curio, DoubleTree, Hilton, and Tapestry Collection properties, Hilton Honors elite members can also receive executive lounge access — Honors Gold members receive access only if they’ve been upgraded to an executive room, while Diamond members receive access no matter what room they’ve been assigned.
There’s some great news on the elite breakfast front. Starting January 1, 2018, all Waldorf Astoria properties will offer complimentary continental breakfast or an equivalent food & beverage credit to all Gold and Diamond members (and one guest) as part of a MyWay benefit option.
This is an awesome development, given that Waldorf Astoria is Hilton’s most premium brand, so it was always a bit frustrating to not receive any sort of breakfast at those hotels. The last Waldorf Astoria I stayed at was the one in Jerusalem, which includes breakfast with all rates. However, that’s the exception rather than the norm.
This is a very nice improvement for Hilton Honors. Now it’s time for Marriott Rewards to catch-up, and stop skimping on breakfast at Ritz-Carlton properties.
Are you excited about Hilton adding elite breakfast at Waldorf Astoria properties?
Checked into the Waldorf Astoria Park City as a Diamond member and they said at checkin that I would be given a $30 credit ($15 x 2) at the restaurant for breakfast. There is no continental breakfast option, it’s either $30 for the buffet or a la carte.
Just check with Waldorf in Park City, UT. I'm arriving there on Thursday.
Complimentary breakfast is not included in your stay regardless of your status (Gold or Diamond). Apparently the free breakfast will be offered only at limited number of hotels.
Just stayed at WA Beijing and was told included breakfast for Diamond, but when I checked out the breakfast was charged with a small discount - no problem as it was an incredible breakfast but they should really get their story straight
@Brian - For most, if not all, practical purposes (earning elite credit or promo points, status recognition, etc), HHonors makes no distinction between revenue and award stays once booked, as long as they are 'eligible' stays as defined in the T&C. So, yes, free breakfast, like suite upgrades, can be had on award stays too
I believe there is a choice for Gold or Diamond at Hilton Garden Inn- either the breakfast or points unlike the other mentioned which are points and breakfast.
@FNT Delta Diamond--totally agree with everything you wrote, with an emphasis on the word "policy". Even though the policy is the same for Marriott Gold and Platinum, in my experience, many Marriott hotels (Courtyard and above) will comp Platinum members a lot more than Gold, especially outside the USA. However, for Ritz Carlton, I've found it hard to get them to volunteer to comp me much of anything.
@Biggie F--only time I've been given a...
@FNT Delta Diamond--totally agree with everything you wrote, with an emphasis on the word "policy". Even though the policy is the same for Marriott Gold and Platinum, in my experience, many Marriott hotels (Courtyard and above) will comp Platinum members a lot more than Gold, especially outside the USA. However, for Ritz Carlton, I've found it hard to get them to volunteer to comp me much of anything.
@Biggie F--only time I've been given a free breakfast at the Boca Beach Club (forget it I was Gold or Diamond at the time) was after a massive hotel screw up, for which the GM was very apologetic.
Does this include award stays?
@ Brian -- It should, yep.
Hmm. What's the definition of "continental" breakfast? We all know there are hotels who skimp already and only provide coffee and a croissant. This sure puts pressure on Marriott to not just require Ritz-Carlton hotels to provide breakfast, but to also require resort hotels to do the same, regardless of their brand. At least for Marriott platinum. My biggest complaint with Marriott, besides a poor upgrade policy and poor breakfast policy, is that the benefits...
Hmm. What's the definition of "continental" breakfast? We all know there are hotels who skimp already and only provide coffee and a croissant. This sure puts pressure on Marriott to not just require Ritz-Carlton hotels to provide breakfast, but to also require resort hotels to do the same, regardless of their brand. At least for Marriott platinum. My biggest complaint with Marriott, besides a poor upgrade policy and poor breakfast policy, is that the benefits for gold and platinum are basically the same.
Well, at least now the need for "data points" for "no breakfast at WA" has been made obsolete, has it not? You need to find something else to bitch about...
breakfast hours are usually inconvenient for the business traveler. so a big nothing burger for me.
One data point. No breakfast at WA Edinburgh as Diamond last year.
Right. I mean has anyone -- other than DCS, who gets suite upgrades and free breakfasts from Hilton even when he is not staying at their properties (sorry, couldn't resist) -- been getting b'fast as Gold or Diamond at Boca Raton Resort or Boca Raton Beach (both WA properties)? I sure haven't.
Anyhow, good to hear that the future is bright. I mean, it's one thing to eat your b'fast at the Boca Raton Beach...
Right. I mean has anyone -- other than DCS, who gets suite upgrades and free breakfasts from Hilton even when he is not staying at their properties (sorry, couldn't resist) -- been getting b'fast as Gold or Diamond at Boca Raton Resort or Boca Raton Beach (both WA properties)? I sure haven't.
Anyhow, good to hear that the future is bright. I mean, it's one thing to eat your b'fast at the Boca Raton Beach Club outside under constant bird attack. But it's a real indignity to be doing so and paying for the privilege.
@DCS: "It was only a matter of time before a benefit that was already there got formalized, and robbed self-anointed travel gurus of yet another talking point with which to bash HHonors.
Even before this change, I got full free breakfast at every single WA I stayed: WA Beijing, WA Shanghai on the Bund (twice), and last year at the iconic Rome Cavalieri WA…"
This is probably news to no one, but the plural of anecdote is not data.
This is great news! i have avoided WA's with my family because of this. At most Hilton's even when its only for one guest, they will often comp our kids breakfast (ages 7 and 8 now) or else they will offer charge them a ridiculously low price (like a side of toast) even when they may get the full kids buffet. One of those unwritten things why i like being a Diamond member.
A few years ago we went to Hilton Waikoloa Village and the breakfast credit we were given could only cover a bowl of cereal at the cereal hut outside. We got continental breakfast in the restaurant and fought at checkout to get credited the difference. It took a lot of arguing about it.
@lucky now this is big. Yesterday's hyatt news was too little too late. This change is very big for families who go to places like the Grand Wailea and spend about $80 a day on breakfast
It was only a matter of time before a benefit that was already there got formalized, and robbed self-anointed travel gurus of yet another talking point with which to bash HHonors.
Even before this change, I got full free breakfast at every single WA I stayed: WA Beijing, WA Shanghai on the Bund (twice), and last year at the iconic Rome Cavalieri WA...
well, as for Marriott, they need to give free breakfast in Courtyard first!
This is good news, although we already received free full breakfast at both the WA Trianon Palace (which may have been a mistake) and WA Shanghai. And the breakfast at both places is spectacularly good.
Still, it is good to have it guaranteed at all WAs