Marriott has a complicated, Rube Goldberg-esque breakfast benefit for elites. Sometimes you get breakfast (continental only, sorry!). Sometimes you get a modest dollar credit for food and beverage. And at other brands you get nothing at all. But what if a hotel decides not to honor breakfast for Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador members at all?
The St. Regis Macao website says that Platinum members and above will no longer receive complimentary breakfast starting March 1.
Elite Members Benefits Update
Starting March 1, 2025, welcome gifts for Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador Marriott Bonvoy Elite Members have 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.
Credit: St. Regis Macao
A guest with an upcoming stay saw this and spoke with a hotel manager who explained,
I call the hotel and speak with the duty manager, he advised it will be a worldwide change, and St. Regis Macao is the first hotel to put it on trial. The new welcome gift will be 3000 points or local amenity, and also a 20% discount of breakfast. While asking if it will breach the elite benefits guarantee, he advised flexibility will be provided at the starting stage and breakfast will still be honoured if members insist.
I checked with Marriott about this, and they tell me it is not a brand-wide change as the hotel manager reportedly suggested, but it is a change at this hotel, “This test is being run by the St. Regis Macao and not as part of a broader program change.”
This suggests that (1) Marriott is ok with the change, (2) Despite it violating the program’s terms and conditions. And it’s unclear what the result of this test will be or its implications. Marriott has told me that they do not intend to update their terms and conditions to account for this property failing to honor the breakfast benefit. They tell me they’re working on an answer as to how they square that circle, however as a guest I would claim the $100 benefit guarantee.
Some of the best hotel breakfasts I’ve ever had were at the St. Regis Bangkok and the St. Regis Bali, to name just a few.
Yet the St. Regis Chicago previously tried to circumvent the breakfast benefit claiming they didn’t have an eligible restaurant. Another Marriott tried the same thing. Still another added a cash co-pay to the free breakfast making it no longer free.
Often I say that Marriott turns a blind eye to owner behavior, since owners are their customers and their priority is attracting and retaining them (‘net rooms growth’) while guests are the product they offer to owners. In this case, however, it appears not to be a blind eye. Instead, the St. Regis Macao has chosen not to follow program rules with the knowing assent of Marriott.
So consumers…. Bend over and take it in the….
So, basically, this will leave Hyatt and IHG as the only major chains to offer breakfast as a benefit for top level elites. At what point do we say screw the loyalty programs and just book the best hotel, then walk down the block for better eggs and bacon?
I honestly believe some hotel owners who work in Hospitality forget that they’re actually working in Hospitality industry and that customers are the people paying the bills to keep the lights on at your property. Some hotel owners badly need to go back to hotel school to understand why loyalty is valuable and not something to take for granted.
Been my M.O. for years. Even if the hotel in question has great food (and that’s often a big “if”), one should always get out as a matter of habit.
Marriott sells us to hotel owners.
If you don’t understand the business model, you’re the product.
Yet another example of being “Bonvoyed” by Marriott. It is less of an issue for my wife and I since we have focused on staying at Hyatt Hotels the last two years.
I really don’t care if I lose my Titanium status! Next on my list is to cancel my Marriott Bonvoy American Express card.
We all know what “test” means…
People who book with Marriott are idiots.
Now do the Renaissance Honolulu. And the Courtyard Waikiki.
I’m serious!
God I hate Marriott. They have completely destroyed their brand.
That’s a load of barnacles. Sure, Ritz-Carlton hasn’t offered the benefit, but St. Regis always did, worldwide. Shame on Marriott and its subsidiaries for continuing to devalue, diminish, and destroy their brand. I’m not going to wish for the ‘free market’ to eventually disapprove. No. I want more. I hope the shareholders and owners pay dearly for their greed and shortsightedness. Boo!
@ Denver Refugee — Where exactly do you suggest going for this great breakfast? McDonlads? Dennys? Waffle House? Great breakfast restaurants not in hotels are few and far between.
Not really surprised anymore any this
Is driven by lack of competition. It’s the same with airlines how much can we cut from the program, six months after the other programs will just follow the brave first one to cut. Till the next recession expect it to get even worse.
So Marriott is Bonvoying loyal guests as a thanks for the guests’ loyalty. Sounds about right.
Pure luxury after guests spending 100 nights a year in their hotels
Seriously how foolish can some be to stay loyal to their program?
Bonvoy has become pathetic and Marriott allows hotels to close lounges and offer nothing for breakfast like the Renaissance in Honolulu while charging a destination fee adding insult to injury
The program benefits in some cities is now a complete rip off especially in North America
I’ve moved tens of thousands in spending elsewhere.Screw them and their stingy crappy hotels!
At some point it’s your fault for staying in an abusive relationship. Hyatt globalist plus Hilton Aspire Diamond is the way.
With Marriott revenue and net profits at all-time highs, Marriott has no reason to not continue on its path of devaluation and reduction of tier benefits. Disaffected loyalty program members have had no effect on its operating results. In short, as much as we might think otherwise, we truly don’t matter. Accept this reality and adjust your game accordingly. Best of luck.
Let them take a $ hit and book via Hotwire and spend the savings on breakfast.
@Mantis — We rarely agree on here, but you have ‘spoken the actual truth’ on this topic at least. Hyatt and Hilton FTW. Also, after Hilton’s acquisition of SLH, they’ve added a lot of luxurious properties to their portfolio recently. Marriott’s loss can be others’ gain.
Within a few years, the breakfast benefit at Marriott luxury hotels will be significantly altered… because hotel owners are asking for it. Hotel level profitability growth is zero to negative right now due to rising costs. Marriott has repeatedly promised “cost savings” to owners, just to see costs creep back up due to general inflation. This is the direction they are going in. If you want to book away from Marriott due to this, it makes sense, but others will replace you.
Its s a violation of the terms and conditions, as those don’t have a call out for this so-called test. Charge back the credit card
Agree with Mantis, as Hilton and Hyatt are the way to go…and my first choices now. I’m lifetime Diamond Hilton, and used Marriott as a second choice, but I’ve had it with them, and have had nice experience the past few months with Hyatt. I’ll add that, for global travellers like me, Radisson Blu is still good for perks…and when in Benelux of Europe, nothing offers better value for money for the business traveller than Van der Valk. I wish Van der Valk was more broad, but if it did that, the family run chain would end up diluting its consistently.
The workhouses of any loyalty program are the road warriors- those not staying in 4-star of better properties, but those in line with Hampton Inns, Fairfields, Residence Inns, etc. Yes, Hyatt may offer a better alternative, but until Hyatt improves their market share in smaller cities/towns, then Marriott will keep doing what they’re doing as there is no reason to stop. Road warriors will continue to use Marriott because there have the most options across the country.