Free?
Is there such a thing these days?
If you are a Marriott Rewards Gold or Platinum Elite member, the answer is a hearty “yes.”
Hearty as in the breakfast you will get for F-R-E-E beginning June 22nd.
Marriott International is treating its loyal customers to a free continental breakfast seven days a week at participating hotels in the U.S. and Canada. To sweeten the deal even more, Gold and Platinum Elite members will also be able to share the free meal pass with a guest of their choice. For elite guests who prefer not to claim a muffin, bagel or waffle before hitting the road, Marriott will add 750 reward points to their accounts.
According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, 79% of hotels currently offer guests complimentary breakfast; that’s up from 55% just two years ago. Travel experts maintain that shrinking vacation budgets are one of the reasons so many properties are offering free breakfast.
In addition to Marriott, platinum status members of the Starwood Preferred Guest program can also chow down on a free continental breakfast. Meanwhile, Hilton HHonors offers breakfast for gold and diamond members seven days a week.
Other popular hotel chains, such as Holiday Inn, provide free breakfast to all of their guests. The discount chain features an extensive free breakfast menu with a variety of egg and meat selections. Staybridge Suites is another chain making budget-conscious guests happy with its large morning buffet, which includes a build-your-own breakfast sandwich bar and fresh breakfast pizzas.
Extended-stay properties, such as Hyatt House, have even more elaborate free breakfasts with made-to-order omelet bars, vegetarian options, rotating hot items, yogurt parfaits and fresh fruit kabobs.
How important is scoring a free meal when you are traveling? Do you go out of your way to book a hotel that offers free breakfast?