Hotel Breakfast Improvement
Regardless of what type of hotel we're in, there is always one thing I wish I could change: the breakfast experience. Whether you're in a Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn, Quality Inn & Suites, or a St. Regis, I want hotel breakfast improvements. Why? Because more and more hotels are opting for buffets as their only breakfast option and that is unacceptable, especially at 4- and 5-star properties. While buffets disappeared during COVID, they are roaring back with a vengeance, oftentimes as the only complimentary option available. Before we dive into why I want these improvements, let's discuss who is entitled to breakfast at each of the major chains.
Complimentary Hotel Breakfast
There are many ways to receive complimentary hotel breakfast during your stay. Some of the ways are:
- Booking via a Luxury Travel Agent (ToP has this service, just email [email protected] for assistance).
- A booking via Chase's The Edit, Amex's Fine Hotels & Resorts, Bilt's Home Away From Home, and more.
- Paying for a hotel rate that includes breakfast.
- Staying at a brand, like Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn, that offers free breakfast to all registered guests.
- Having elite status with a Hotel Brand, including:
- Hyatt Globalist
- Marriott Platinum or higher (at select properties)
- Hilton Gold or higher (at international destinations)
- IHG Diamond
While each benefit varies from program to program, and sometimes hotel to hotel, you can expect some version of free breakfast, usually for 2 people. As you'll see below, this usually leads to plenty of room for hotel breakfast improvement.
My One Wish: Eliminating Buffets As Free Breakfast
My current pet peeve, and really my wish for immediate hotel breakfast improvement, is to get rid of buffets as the free breakfast benefit. Specifically, luxury hotels in the 4- and 5-star categories, should not routinely offer buffets as the breakfast benefit. Why? Let me count the ways!
Buffets Are Gross
No, that is not an opinion. That is science. Show me a buffet and I'll show you dish after dish riddled with bacteria and germs. Enjoying those eggs? Better hope there's no e. coli mixed in! Think those fruits and veggies are harmless? They're likely the most disgusting thing being offered. If you get food poisoning while traveling, it is likely from that buffet breakfast you consumed, unfortunately.
Buffets Lead To Food Waste
Buffets are just about the single worst source of food waste. A recent study found that almost FIFTY PERCENT (50%) of all food on buffets is ultimately thrown away. That's 108 BILLION pounds of food per year, at a cost of approximately $410,000,000,000 per year. Let those numbers sink in. For every eggs benedict or waffle you eat, another one is thrown away.
Buffets Are Unsafe
Not only are buffets highly unsanitary, they also pose a serious risk to hundreds of millions of people around the world. That's right, buffets are highly prone to cross-contamination, which is problematic for those with food allergies. Studies by universities, as well as Anaphylaxis UK agree that buffets are extremely risky and should be avoided by those with anaphylaxis responses to allergens.
Buffets Are Poor Quality
While not always the case, the vast majority of the time buffets have lower quality food than made-to-order meals. Like most everything in life, you can choose quality or quantity but not both. While there are exceptions, of course, this usually holds true. If you're staying in nicer hotels and were given an option of a buffet or made-to-order meals, it is highly likely most folks would prefer a made-to-order meal every single time.
Hotel Breakfast Improvement: ToP Thoughts
It's probably not fair to call this ToP Thoughts, because this is more like “Derrick's ramblings.” I've been wanting to write this piece for a while, even if no one agrees with me. The buffet-only complimentary breakfast is not acceptable, especially at 4- and 5-star hotels. If I had one wish for future travel, it is there we see hotel breakfast improvements across all hotel chains. Seriously, this is one of my biggest pet peeves. I cannot safely eat at buffets due to severe food allergies and there are millions of folks around the world just like me. It's past time for the 4- and 5-star luxury hotels to always offer complimentary made-to-order breakfasts for those eligible, even if lower-tier properties can't do so. Let's face it, if you're staying at a 2-star airport hotel, you're not staying there for the breakfast anyway!
What are your thoughts about breakfast? Did this speak to you or is it a nothing burger? Come over to our Facebook group and let us know.
