No more free breakfast at Hilton hotels in U.S., here are the details
Last May Hilton had announced temporary changes, from July 1 to the end of 2021, for all [...]
Last May, Hilton had announced. of temporary changes, from July 1 to the end of 2021, for all elite status holders in the Hilton Honors program.
In this article:
In fact, Gold and Diamond customers will lose the benefit of the free breakfast during stays in the group's American hotels.
The change is that guests, we repeat only for stays in U.S. Hiltons, are given a credit to spend in the restaurants and bars on the property. So if you have booked at one of the many Hilton hotels in the rest of the world, including Italy, you will continue to receive free breakfast.
On the other hand, if you are planning to go to the US, When you can return to the United States, one must evaluate this change very carefully.
Depending on the brand, you will receive a voucher of different value: $10 per person for stays at a Garden Inn, $12 for all non-luxury accommodations, and 25$ for stays at the Conrad, Waldorf Astoria, and LXR. Voucher doubles in case of a couple's stay.
Because it's not a bad idea
First because it does not cover all the hotels in the group, only the American ones. Second because the credit can be used to pay for breakfast, dinner, or any other consumption in the hotel.
With this freedom, one can decide to pay for a beer at the hotel and have breakfast outside in the morning.
Because it is a bad precedent
We have never hidden how the program Hilton Honors is the best, in our opinion, for the Italian market. Right now there are no credit cards that give away elite level above Gold, and that means the only loyalty program that gives away breakfast is really Hilton's.
When staying in New York City, this benefit is definitely a boon when you consider that a breakfast at the Conrad Downtown Manhattan can cost well over the value of the voucher, but even at a Garden Inn we would spend more than the 10$ offered as a coupon.
In conclusion
Hopefully, this is a countermove, all-American, to provide a remedy for the many potential customers holding elite status obtained through special discounts and promotions In this pandemic period. We will see what happens in January 2022 when hopefully the world will be (almost) back to the way it was.
