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One of the main reasons I like having good elite status is because not only can it make travel more comfortable and fun, it can also save me money. Sometimes it can save me a lot of money.
Upgrades can be very nice to get, but unless I’m traveling with Joanna, they’re not something I worry about when choosing where to stay. When it comes to lounge access and complimentary breakfasts, however, I take those pretty seriously.
A good breakfast at a nice property can easily set you back over $30 per person, and if you’re traveling as a couple, that can quickly add up in just a few days.
Sure, you always have the option of eating away from the hotel (and that’s something I almost always do when it comes to lunch and dinner), but when it comes to breakfast it’s nice to be able to eat where you’re staying … especially if the weather outside isn’t great.
One of the benefits that comes with Marriott Bonvoy Platinum and Marriott Bonvoy Titanium status is complimentary breakfast, but Marriott has made the benefit so complicated that you need a definitive guide to understand it. This is your guide.
Guide to the Marriott Bonvoy breakfast benefit
In a logical, sane, and a properly joined-up loyalty program, a breakfast benefit should be cut and dry, so your status should either entitle you to a complimentary breakfast or not.
Marriott sees things differently, so different Marriott brands handle the elite breakfast benefit in different ways, and some don’t offer the benefit at all.
Here’s what Marriott Bonvoy Platinum and Titanium Elite members can expect across Marriott’s various brands.
Note: Be aware that some properties offer a food and beverage credit by the day while others only offer it by the stay – read the terms carefully
AC HOTELS
Elite members don’t get a complimentary breakfast at AC Hotels, but a $10/day food and beverage credit can be taken as a ‘welcome gift’ for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member (max $20/day).
ALOFT
Breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
At non-resort locations, breakfast is offered to the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member through access to the property’s lounge – Excludes Atlantis Paradise Island and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
In the absence of a lounge, breakfast can be taken in the hotel restaurant.
At Autograph Collection resorts, breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
COURTYARD
Breakfast is offered to the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member through access to the property’s lounge (if one is available).
Where a property doesn’t offer a lounge, a $10/day food and beverage credit can be taken as a ‘welcome gift’ for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member (max $20/day).
DELTA HOTELS & RESORTS
At Delta Hotels, breakfast is offered to the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member through access to the property’s lounge (if one is available).
In the absence of a lounge, breakfast can be taken in the hotel restaurant.
At Delta resorts breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
DESIGN HOTELS
No complimentary breakfast or food and beverage credit offered.
EDITION
No complimentary breakfast or food and beverage credit offered.
ELEMENT PROPERTIES
All guests, regardless of elite status, get a complimentary breakfast.
FAIRFIELD INN
All guests, regardless of elite status, get a complimentary breakfast.
FOUR POINTS
Breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
GAYLORD PROPERTIES
No complimentary breakfast offered to elite members, but a $10/room/stay food and beverage credit can be taken as a ‘welcome gift’.
JW MARRIOTT HOTELS & RESORTS
At JW Marriott Hotels breakfast is offered to the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member through access to the property’s lounge. During times when the lounge is closed, breakfast is offered in the hotel’s restaurant.
At JW Marriott Resorts, breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
LE MÉRIDIEN
Breakfast is offered to the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member through access to the property’s lounge (if one is available).
Where a property doesn’t offer a lounge breakfast must be chosen as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
LUXURY COLLECTION
Breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
MARRIOTT HOTELS & RESORTS
At Marriott Hotels, breakfast is offered to the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member through access to the property’s lounge (if one is available). In the absence of a lounge, breakfast can be taken in the hotel restaurant.
At Marriott Resorts, breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
MARRIOTT VACATION CLUB
No complimentary breakfast or food and beverage credit offered.
MOXY
No complimentary breakfast offered to elite members, but a $10/day food and beverage credit can be taken as a ‘welcome gift’ for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member (max $20/day).
PROTEA
Breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
RENAISSANCE HOTELS & RESORTS
At hotels, breakfast is offered to the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member through access to the property’s lounge (if one is available). In the absence of a lounge, breakfast can be taken in the hotel restaurant.
At resorts, breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
RESIDENCE INN
All guests, regardless of elite status, get a complimentary breakfast.
RITZ-CARLTON
No complimentary breakfast or food and beverage credit offered.
ST. REGIS HOTELS & RESORTS
At both hotels and resorts, breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
SHERATON HOTELS & RESORTS
Breakfast is offered to the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member through access to the property’s lounge (if one is available).
Where a property doesn’t offer a lounge breakfast must be chosen as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
At Sheraton Resorts, breakfast is offered to the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member through access to the property’s lounge.
SPRINGHILL SUITES
All guests, regardless of elite status, get a complimentary breakfast.
TOWNEPLACE SUITES
All guests, regardless of elite status, get a complimentary breakfast.
TRIBUTE PORTFOLIO
Breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
W HOTELS
Breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
WESTIN
Breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant for the elite member + 1 person staying in the same room as the elite member as long as this is selected as the ‘welcome gift’ at check-in.
If a Westin property has a lounge, a complimentary breakfast can be had here (elite member + 1) and a different welcome gift can be selected.
Bottom Line
The mind boggles when trying to get to grips with Marriott’s elite breakfast benefit, so hopefully the information above helps.
There will always be exceptions to the rules (I’ve been offered breakfast at properties that aren’t mandated to offer breakfast to elites, while some hotels have been known to make up their own rules to get out of offering the breakfast benefit), but by and large, the information above should be representative of what you can expect.
What about Gold members?
Gold members don’t get complimentary breakfast as part of their benefits package.
If a platinum member booked two rooms for 4 people, can all 4 people receive free breakfast and lounge access?
As a platinum member, if I book a room for my parents (without me present), will they receive breakfast/lounge access?
Thanks
I believe the benefit only extends to the elite member and up to one person staying in the same room – anyone staying in other rooms booked by the elite member would not be entitled to the breakfast benefit.
[…] Unfortunately this is another area where Marriott lets itself down – not all Marriott properties offer Titanium elites a complimentary breakfast and the rules surrounding which brands offer breakfast and which don’t are just too convoluted (see here for more info). […]
A $10 F&B daily voucher doesn’t even cover an espresso and two eggs. Doesn’t cover yogurt and espresso.
Courtyards with a lounge? LOL!
Time for Marriott to keep up with Bidenomics and increase to $15 daily F&B.
Or breakfast across the board.
-LT Titanium
As an FYI, some Courtyard properties *do* have a lounge. The courtyard Seoul being just one example.
Is there an app I can download (since I’m a very frequent traveler) that I can refer to great “notes” like what you have listed here at the point of sale (check in) instead of having to Google to find this story or keeping a copy of it?
There are other topics that have been covered regarding airlines, ride sharing, etc that would be helpful in a more accessible way.
Not as far as I know, sorry.
You forgot Ambassador level members. I assume they are grouped here as well. As a previous Ambassador level member (and lifetime Platinum) I can tell you I was disappointed in the differences in Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador levels when it comes to upgrades. In fact, I have seen ZERO difference. I really thought that once I hit Ambassador, things would get much better – it didn’t.