Breakfast is one of the perks of hotel elite status that people value most, though the policies differ significantly among the major hotel groups. Marriott is the largest hotel group in the world, though arguably the Marriott Bonvoy program’s elite breakfast benefit is the most complicated one out there.
In this post I wanted to explain Marriott Bonvoy’s breakfast benefit as simply as possible, because there’s a lot to understand.
In this post:
Why Marriott Bonvoy’s breakfast benefit is complicated
Marriott Bonvoy has the least consistent elite breakfast benefit of any major hotel group. While Marriott has over 30 different hotel brands, the group has over 50 different breakfast policies. That’s because sometimes policies differ depending on whether a property is in the United States or abroad, whether a property is categorized as a hotel or resort, whether a property has a club lounge or not, etc.
I don’t know why this has to be so complicated, but I suspect it’s a combination of the merger between Marriott and Starwood, plus corporate generally trying to please hotel owners. It seems like there are some harmonization opportunities, though…
What Marriott brands offer free elite breakfast?
To make this as simple as possible, I’ll put Marriott’s brands into one of four categories:
- Some hotel brands offer all guests complimentary breakfast, regardless of status
- Some hotel brands don’t offer any guests complimentary breakfast on account of status
- Some hotel brands offer complimentary breakfast as an elite status welcome amenity choice
- Some hotel brands offer a food & beverage credit as an elite status welcome amenity choice, which can be applied toward breakfast, or another drink or meal
Before we get into this, a few more things to note:
- The elite breakfast benefits are specific to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members and above; Silver and Gold members don’t receive these perks, and conversely, Titanium and Ambassador members don’t get any incremental breakfast perks
- Aside from the brands offering all guests free breakfast, there’s always an opportunity cost to getting breakfast, since you have to choose that as your welcome amenity in lieu of something else, like Bonvoy points
- I’m intentionally trying to simplify this as much as possible, so am leaving out some fairly minor details that I think will only complicate things (trust me, I’m doing you a favor here)
With that out of the way, let’s get into it.
Marriott brands that offer all guests free breakfast
The following Marriott brands offer all guests complimentary breakfast:
- City Express
- Element
- Fairfield Inn & Suites
- Residence Inn
- SpringHill Suites
- TownePlace Suites
As you can see, there are no incremental breakfast perks at these properties for elite members, since everyone gets breakfast. Platinum members and above can still select a welcome amenity (typically points), but that’s unrelated to breakfast.
Marriott brands that don’t offer free elite breakfast
The following Marriott brands don’t offer elite members complimentary breakfast:
- Design Hotels
- EDITION
- Marriott Grand Residence Club
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Ritz-Carlton
It’s really a shame that some of Marriott’s highest-end brands choose not to offer elite members breakfast. If you do want to receive complimentary breakfast at EDITION or Ritz-Carlton, your best bet is to book through the Marriott STARS program, where that’s a perk.
Marriott brands that offer free elite breakfast
The following Marriott brands allow elite members to select complimentary breakfast as their welcome amenity:
- Aloft
- Autograph Collection (resorts only)
- Delta (resorts only)
- Four Points by Sheraton
- JW Marriott (resorts only)
- Le Meridien
- Luxury Collection
- Marriott (resorts only)
- Protea
- Renaissance (resorts only)
- Sheraton
- St. Regis
- Tribute Portfolio
- Westin
- W
Marriott brands that offer elite food & beverage credit
The following Marriott brands allow elite members to select a food & beverage credit as their welcome amenity, which could be applied to breakfast (or something else):
- AC Hotels
- Autograph Collection (hotels only)
- Courtyard
- Delta (hotels only)
- Gaylord
- JW Marriott (hotels only)
- Marriott (hotels only)
- Moxy
- Renaissance (hotels only)
How executive lounge access fits into this
What complicates this even further is that Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members and above receive complimentary lounge access at a vast majority of Marriott brands, assuming there’s a lounge. The only widespread exclusion is Ritz-Carlton club lounges, as you have to buy access to those.
If you’re staying at a property like a Marriott or Sheraton, you’ll automatically receive executive lounge access, and you don’t need to select that as your welcome amenity. With executive lounge access, you’ll also get complimentary continental breakfast in the lounge.
However, as you can see, you can still select restaurant breakfast as your welcome amenity, if you’re in a situation where you’d prefer to dine in the restaurant rather than in the lounge (since the selection is sometimes superior). However, some hotels will automatically offer lounge guests to also enjoy restaurant breakfast, so you might not even need to select that as your welcome amenity to dine in the restaurant.
Marriott Bonvoy elite breakfast FAQs
While the above covers the very basics, let me answer some of the most common questions about Marriott Bonvoy’s Platinum breakfast benefit.
Do Marriott Silver & Gold members get free breakfast?
No, aside from hotels that offer all guests free breakfast, there are no incremental elite breakfast perks for Silver and Gold members. Only Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador members get a breakfast benefit.
For how many people does Marriott’s breakfast benefit apply?
Generally speaking, Marriott’s breakfast benefit applies for the elite member plus one additional guest. In some cases if you’re staying in a room with more people (like children) hotels may offer them free breakfast too, but that’s a courtesy rather than a policy.
Is tip included with Marriott’s breakfast benefit?
There’s nothing in the Marriott Bonvoy terms indicating whether gratuity is included with elite breakfast perks. I’ve found that some hotels do include gratuity for elite breakfast, while others don’t. Generally this is a non-issue outside the United States, while in the United States I always try to bring some cash to breakfast, in the event that it’s not.
How do you redeem your Marriott breakfast benefit?
The first step is to make sure you select breakfast as your elite welcome amenity when you check-in. Once that’s selected, the front desk associate should explain the process for actually using the breakfast benefit. At some hotels you just charge the full amount of breakfast to your room, and it’s taken off at check-out. At other hotels you have to present a voucher when you’re seated.
Is Marriott breakfast continental or full?
It depends who you ask. If you ask me, Marriott’s elite benefit is for continental breakfast. Looking at the Marriott Bonvoy terms & conditions:
- The welcome amenity is generally for “breakfast in restaurant,” without mentioning what kind of breakfast
- When you select breakfast as a welcome amenity in lieu of lounge access, the terms specifically state you’re entitled to continental breakfast
Some take that to mean that you get a full, hot breakfast at hotels with a club lounge. Personally that’s not my interpretation, and for that matter a majority of hotels I’ve stayed at would be in violation of the rules if that were the case. With Marriott I just expect a continental breakfast, and if I get more than that, I consider myself to be lucky.
Should you select breakfast as your Marriott welcome amenity?
In almost all cases, selecting breakfast as your welcome amenity is the better value. Let me give an example of why. I stayed at the St. Regis Aspen for five nights, and as a Titanium member I could select either a $52 daily breakfast credit, or a welcome amenity of 1,000 points.
Over the course of my five night stay, that $52 credit adds up to $260. Meanwhile the 1,000 point welcome amenity is offered once per stay. I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, so to me 1,000 points are worth $7. It wasn’t too tough to decide between $260 worth of breakfast or $7 worth of points.
How consistent is Marriott’s elite breakfast benefit?
Not at all. As you might expect, there’s huge variability in terms of the execution of the complimentary breakfast benefit, and it perhaps reflects general recognition of elite status around the globe.
Outside the United States, the breakfast benefit is often incredible, with access to a full buffet at no extra cost. In the United States it’s a different story, and more often than not, I find one of the following to be the case:
- The breakfast benefit is explicitly for something you may not necessarily want and that’s very limited, like a bowl of cereal, a banana, and some coffee
- The breakfast benefit is a certain dollar amount that covers some very basic items, but can be applied toward something else
I obviously prefer the latter method. It often means my breakfast won’t be free, but at least I’ll get what I actually want at a reasonable cost.
I actually can’t remember the last time I stayed at a Marriott property in the United States and could order what I wanted for breakfast without it costing me anything out of pocket.
How does Marriott’s breakfast benefit compare to competitors?
How does the Marriott Bonvoy breakfast benefit compare to what competitors offer? Here’s my general take:
- World of Hyatt is among the best, as Globalist members receive complimentary full breakfast at a vast majority of properties globally
- IHG One Rewards is also competitive, as Diamond members receive complimentary full breakfast at most brands
- Hilton Honors Diamond and Hilton Honors Gold members have the benefit of getting a benefit at all brands, though nowadays properties in the United States just offer a food & beverage credit, rather than complimentary breakfast, and that credit typically isn’t big enough to cover a proper breakfast
Bottom line
Complimentary breakfast is one of the most valuable benefits of hotel elite status. However, the execution is different with every loyalty program, and for that matter you’ll even find quite a bit of variance within a particular loyalty program.
Marriott Bonvoy has the most complicated elite breakfast benefit. Long story short, you should get lounge access, complimentary breakfast, or a food & beverage credit, at all but five brands. The execution of that is highly variable, though, with some hotels offering access to an amazing breakfast buffet without paying a dime, while other hotels offer a cup of coffee and a muffin.
What has your experience been with Marriott’s elite breakfast benefit?
Other than an occassional "thank you for being a Titanium member" at the front desk on check in, there are few Marriott loyalty benefits. The breakfast benefit is so complicated, I just take what they give me and mutter under my breath about how it isn't like it used to be. If you are going to offer a "benefit," then please give it to me. Period. I shouldn't have to jump through hoops, wear purple...
Other than an occassional "thank you for being a Titanium member" at the front desk on check in, there are few Marriott loyalty benefits. The breakfast benefit is so complicated, I just take what they give me and mutter under my breath about how it isn't like it used to be. If you are going to offer a "benefit," then please give it to me. Period. I shouldn't have to jump through hoops, wear purple clothing or arrive in a 1942 Ford to qualify.
Does Marriott TRULY understand that their best customers (by status) rag them pretty consistently over being "bonvoyed?" I don't give Marriott any priority when booking a room, and I won't, as long as they play "cheap."
Marriott socks for loyalty members (I have a Lifetime Titanium status when converted over from Sheraton). Why should any loyalty "benefit" be some complicated to comprehend.
And total disregard to room upgrades at lots of properties.
It's simply this. Marriott leadership put higher priority in franchise licensing and cow down to franchisee operators who don't want to give any "freebees" to any loyalty members.
The Marriott brand has been totally sullied and loyalty members...
Marriott socks for loyalty members (I have a Lifetime Titanium status when converted over from Sheraton). Why should any loyalty "benefit" be some complicated to comprehend.
And total disregard to room upgrades at lots of properties.
It's simply this. Marriott leadership put higher priority in franchise licensing and cow down to franchisee operators who don't want to give any "freebees" to any loyalty members.
The Marriott brand has been totally sullied and loyalty members have screwed by the Marriott marketing bulletin on "benefits".
I have NOT stayed at a single Marriott property this year and have stayed 20 nights at hotels worldwide. I get better benefits as a lowly Silver member with Hhonors overseas.
I am lifetime Titanium and frequent Ambassador. I have had remarkable breakfast buffet access overseas. The Bangkok Marriott and the Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport were spectacular. The US, by comparison, is a joke.
When Bonvoy merged with Sheraton (ate SHeraton) I was a Sheraton Gold which was to be converted to Bonvoy Platinum. Well, along with thousands of others, I was shafted and when we went to a Bonvoy property in Melbourne there was no breakfast. Always leaves me a bad taste in my mouth that I won't ever forget.
On the other hand we ended up in a JW Marriott in Eastern Europe and we were upgraded...
When Bonvoy merged with Sheraton (ate SHeraton) I was a Sheraton Gold which was to be converted to Bonvoy Platinum. Well, along with thousands of others, I was shafted and when we went to a Bonvoy property in Melbourne there was no breakfast. Always leaves me a bad taste in my mouth that I won't ever forget.
On the other hand we ended up in a JW Marriott in Eastern Europe and we were upgraded to an executive floor suite AS A SILVER member on points! I was gob smacked and it was one of the best stays and lounges I have ever experienced.
I’m a bit confused.
When you mention “welcome amenity”, you mean one time perk or a perk that applies throughout the entire stay?
Thank you
I think they need to sort this out finally. For example - Consider that many of us consider the St Regis a nicer hotel and I can use my welcome gift for an expensive daily breakfast. This compares to the Ritz Carlton where it is not included.
The wall st journal YouTube channel has a series of videos on large hotel chains just last week. They talked about how the big chains over the years have sold off properties. Marriott now only owns 3% of all Marriott properties. About 4 other companies owns the actual properties and since they are getting larger in scope they are clearly giving Marriott more push back on what they prefer the rules to be. I've reason...
The wall st journal YouTube channel has a series of videos on large hotel chains just last week. They talked about how the big chains over the years have sold off properties. Marriott now only owns 3% of all Marriott properties. About 4 other companies owns the actual properties and since they are getting larger in scope they are clearly giving Marriott more push back on what they prefer the rules to be. I've reason why so many places recently decided on their own breakfast policy probably to test how much they can push Marriott. I would be willing to bet this is a test for much larger changes contradicting Marriotts policies.
Article not correct. No breakfast at Fairfield Inn in Asia (although some still do).
Sheraton Nashua provided a breakfast voucher for one person only (Titanium member) despite two of us sharing a room.
I returned to the reception and talked with two members of staff, a third listening, and they were firm that this was hotel policy and aligned with Marriott policy.
Recently stayed at the Delta in Burlington Vt and they only offered a $10 credit for the entire stay as a platinum member. Two people for four nights and we got one single $10 credit towards the bar, how pathetic.
Right on. Ben!
I value my Platinum Status and have found some amazing breakfasts at a few properties. Among the best was The Stockholm Sheraton and Chateau Champlain Marriott. It is, as you noted, a very valued part of elite membership.
As a platinum member, I find the benefits confusing and inconsistent. I just received $100 credit from a hotel that refused to offer breakfast. Another hotel refused to honor the benefit and refused to offer compensation. Some hotels go above and beyond to provide this amenity. I had a waitress tell me that the tip is included? Too many rules across the multiple brands.
@Ben: . . . Post photo
i like it, especially as it is my so far favorite Marriott brand Hotel, The EDITION Bodrum, TR . . . but funny that you would use that photo as this EDITION property has Breakfast included for ALL guests! ;-)
Just saying!
.... i guess, it just shows that you liked it there as much as i did?
P.S. .... the beach lady in charge is still the same!
Not to defend Accor, since they suck, but typically Accor Properties are cheaper than their equivalent Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt partially because not offering breakfast. Just one example but I am going to Tallinn and
Marriott Property (4 stars Autograph Collection) 199/Night
Hilton (4 Stars? Hilton) 100/Night
Accor (Swissôtel, Technically 5 stars but realistically 4): 85/Night
Obviously one example but in general I left Marriott and Hyatt because even though their loyalty...
Not to defend Accor, since they suck, but typically Accor Properties are cheaper than their equivalent Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt partially because not offering breakfast. Just one example but I am going to Tallinn and
Marriott Property (4 stars Autograph Collection) 199/Night
Hilton (4 Stars? Hilton) 100/Night
Accor (Swissôtel, Technically 5 stars but realistically 4): 85/Night
Obviously one example but in general I left Marriott and Hyatt because even though their loyalty programmes are in theory better, there prices don't justify their loyalty programme benefits. Put it short, breakfast benefits are kinda BS. Often an Accor property in a junior suite and breakfast in the room rate comes out to the same as a Marriott with a not guaranteed free breakfast nor room upgrade.
In the U.S. I often write off the breakfast. It is likely to be poor quality and unhealthy, at least in the mid level hotels I might stay for work. Europe and Asia are different. Here I think about the likely quality of the breakfast when booking hotels and may stay in a nicer Marriot to make the most.
Seriously, it is just a stupid breakfast which I really don’t care. All I need in the morning is a latte and a small pastry to get me going so I rather give my money to a local coffee shop. I rarely, even if for free, eat breakfast at hotels. Let them nickel and dime, I don’t really care.
That claim offers such a grossly distorted picture of the reality that it borders on a lie that anyone with a computer and web browser can establish incontrovertibly.
On the Hilton Honors web site search for hotels by setting your location as "USA"....
That claim offers such a grossly distorted picture of the reality that it borders on a lie that anyone with a computer and web browser can establish incontrovertibly.
On the Hilton Honors web site search for hotels by setting your location as "USA". That's right, search for Hilton hotels in the whole country. Using flexible dates, run the search with "free breakfast" filter toggled off. Then, rerun the search a second time with the "free breakfast" filter toggled on, and you will get the following incontrovertible data:
Total number of Hilton hotels in the USA: 5,858
Total number of Hilton hotels in the USA that offer free breakfast to all guests: 4,146
Clearly, as stated, the claim that "nowadays [Hilton] properties in the United States just offer a food & beverage credit, rather than complimentary breakfast" is grossly inaccurate. In the real world, 4,146 out of 5,858 or fully 70.8% of Hilton hotels in the USA offer free breakfast to all guests, while just 29.2% of hotels offer F&B credit in lieu of free breakfast.
For some perspective, consider the following. As of 20 November 2023, there were only 791 locations with a Hyatt hotel in all of US of A (https://www.scrapehero.com/location-reports/Hyatt%20Group%20Hotels%20&%20Resorts-USA/ ), meaning that roughly 5X more Hilton hotels in the US offer free breakfast to all guests than there are Hyatt hotels in the whole country!
Bottom line: If free breakfast is your thing, then you are much more likely to get it at most destinations in the US if you book a stay at a Hilton hotel than if you book your stay at a Hyatt hotel. REALLY.
There are also at least 5x more entry level Toyotas on US roads than there are Porsches…you get what you pay for.
If Hyatt loyals needed 4,000 rural limited service properties off of the interstate, they would instead be Hilton loyals. Hard pass.
I just did searches in San Diego, Orlando, LA etc. Large cities and result is closer to 50% with free breakfast. But if you filter out homewood, hampton inn and embassy there is next to nothing. No one who cares about their health should touch any breakfast item at those 3 hotels.
As for the ops comment, the curio in San Diego (aside from notoriously not give anyone an upgrade even in the middle of...
I just did searches in San Diego, Orlando, LA etc. Large cities and result is closer to 50% with free breakfast. But if you filter out homewood, hampton inn and embassy there is next to nothing. No one who cares about their health should touch any breakfast item at those 3 hotels.
As for the ops comment, the curio in San Diego (aside from notoriously not give anyone an upgrade even in the middle of the pandemic when I stayed for several weeks and then after the pandemic) offers $15 for breakfast. A small bowl of oatmeal with fruit and a cup of coffee was $18. Now it could just be SD. That region is terrible for both Hilton and Marriott. It is the only region where I have never ever received a room upgrade in any of the hiltons I stayed and I have been staying there almost yearly for quite some time with diamond. Europe and Asia is a different story on every level. There, Hilton is wayyy better than Marriott and decently better than hyatt imo. But the nightly cost of those 3 chains in Europe has risen dramatically while independents have more or less stayed the same which is why I now prefer to book smaller brands through amex and csr. I've dropped Marriott and hyatt. Let's see how long I'll stick with Hilton.
@ DCS -- So to summarize your post, what you're saying is that Hampton Inn is a Hilton brand.
Also, the bullet point you quoted is clearly regarding breakfast inclusions on account of elite status. I wasn't addressing the question of which hotel brand has the most properties where free breakfast is included. But you're absolutely right, if that were the topic of the post, then Hilton would win, thanks to Hampton Inn.
Always appreciate...
@ DCS -- So to summarize your post, what you're saying is that Hampton Inn is a Hilton brand.
Also, the bullet point you quoted is clearly regarding breakfast inclusions on account of elite status. I wasn't addressing the question of which hotel brand has the most properties where free breakfast is included. But you're absolutely right, if that were the topic of the post, then Hilton would win, thanks to Hampton Inn.
Always appreciate your desire to rewrite my posts in any way that makes Hilton look good -- it's quite a skill!
God, you're nuts!
The $15 credit at Doubletree SFO allowed some toast some cereal and a coffee. Nothing warm. Cost way over $30 for two.
A Hilton Hotel breakfast credit generally doesn't go ANYWHERE NEAR covering the cost of breakfast. The person or persons who said they are pandering to their franchisees hit the mark. They just keep cutting the benefit a little at a time. Do they think we are all stupid?
To DCS: Have you ever written a comment that we could read and understand? 500 words every time is a yawn and a pass. Plus, you...
A Hilton Hotel breakfast credit generally doesn't go ANYWHERE NEAR covering the cost of breakfast. The person or persons who said they are pandering to their franchisees hit the mark. They just keep cutting the benefit a little at a time. Do they think we are all stupid?
To DCS: Have you ever written a comment that we could read and understand? 500 words every time is a yawn and a pass. Plus, you one of the rudest people on here. I suspect that makes you happy. Boring.
Cleaner link to the number of Hyatt Group Hotels & Resorts locations in the United States: https://bit.ly/3PV5GLE
100% of full service Hyatt properties in the US, I get a full breakfast. Not too many HR lounge breakfasts anymore - win for me!
DCS and his small breakfast credit cannot make the same claim, no matter how many times he tries to polish the Hilton turd.
Let's see if you'll get why this is all just noise, with little practical import for me.
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to have free "continental" breakfast at Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and Marriott in the US and, unlike overseas, none of the chains offered breakfast that I found appetizing enough to get up in the morning for. Instead, because 100% of my domestic US travel is for business, what I've been doing is...
Let's see if you'll get why this is all just noise, with little practical import for me.
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to have free "continental" breakfast at Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and Marriott in the US and, unlike overseas, none of the chains offered breakfast that I found appetizing enough to get up in the morning for. Instead, because 100% of my domestic US travel is for business, what I've been doing is to stay exclusively at Hilton hotels for LTD status recognition; treat myself to any breakfast that I desire, inside or outside the hotel, because it's travel expense for which I get reimbursed; and use the F&B credit to offset my bar tabs. Do you see why it's a win-win for some of who play the game with a "full deck"?
Goodbye.
@DCS - You clearly invested a lot of time and effort into your comment. You do this on many of your comments.
Life is finite, life is short...... Take some time off from this site (sorry Ben), at least 30 days, maybe more. Use that time to try and experience new things. Find something that inspires you to invest your limited time on this earth in a way that brings you joy.
@Don -- Please spare me the psychobabble. First, what I write here comes to me naturally and effortlessly, so you are wrong about how much time I spend on it. Second, I have been commenting in this space for over a decade during which I have challenged and prevailed in changing some long entrenched dogmas. So, please do me (and yourself) a favor, and do not dilude yourself into thinking that I need any advice from you or anyone.
Goodbye.
DCS: “Hilton US breakfasts are so bad, not even I would eat there!”
(Just one example but breakfast at NoMi at the PH Chicago is definitely worth waking up for)
@DCS -- Thank you for validating my comment.
Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.
Zero reason for anyone to be Marriott loyal, esp. with the Plat CC. Benefits will undoubtedly continue to decline because of it.
In other words, the entire Bonvoy program is so complicated that one needs a PhD in Bonvoy to understand it and take advantage of the benefits.
No, thank you!
It's probably worth emphasizing that the experience one has with the breakfast benefit from any loyalty program can be segregated into 1) inside the US and 2) outside the US.
Honesty, for me, this is why I make no effort what so ever to attain and keep Marriott status. I used to be Gold, then Platinum, then Gold again, and as of 2024 only Silver, but I just think that the benefits are too vague and poorly enforced, regardless of where you stay. My retried mother was fortunate enough to get Lifetime Titanium back in the day, and she only stays at Marriott properties, and...
Honesty, for me, this is why I make no effort what so ever to attain and keep Marriott status. I used to be Gold, then Platinum, then Gold again, and as of 2024 only Silver, but I just think that the benefits are too vague and poorly enforced, regardless of where you stay. My retried mother was fortunate enough to get Lifetime Titanium back in the day, and she only stays at Marriott properties, and I can count on one hand the number of times she's gotten a full free suite upgrade (without applying a certificate). I, on the other hand, hold Hilton Diamond (earned, no credit cards since I live in Europe :( ) and get free suite upgrades quite commonly and also find that the breakfast credit in the US works very well. Btw, speaking of Marriott benefits, I was recently mixed-up with an Ambassador member in a nicer Marriott property in PA and "his" welcome amenity consisted of being upgraded to an executive room (worthless) and two bottles of Pellegrino in the room - embarrassing.