Hilton International Breakfast Credits
After the lockdowns Hilton instituted a cost savings measure and removed free breakfast for elites in the US. This was replaced with a daily resort credit for up to 2 people. The amount would depend on where you stayed but was usually in the $15 – $25 per person range. This did not sit well with many elites, especially with hotel rates being at all time highs. It was a money grab, pure and simple. Having said that, I didn’t hate it, even if I was in the minority there. The common theme among travelers was, at least we still had breakfast internationally. It looks like that could change in the future and there could be Hilton international breakfast credits as well. They have already made the move with one brand. Will, when or if the rest follow is the question. But, I think the bigger question we need to answer is does this offer an opportunity?
Would Hilton International Breakfast Credits Offer A Double Dip
One thing international Hilton hotels, all hotel brands internationally really, have going for them, outside of full breakfasts, is their lounges are actually open. We recently used one during our stay in Vienna. Not only did it have a great breakfast but also a nice happy hour with free drinks on top of that. The happy hours overseas blow the stateside lounges away for sure, when they were actually open that is.
What if they made this change but you still had lounge access too? We were offered to take our breakfast in the lounge or in the restaurant. Usually a restaurant is going to offer better food, but we liked the ease of no paperwork with the lounge and went that route. It is also quicker, which was important with how compact our trip was.
If this were the case then you could get your breakfast and eat it too! (See what I did there?) What if you were given lounge access AND got the daily credit. Is that dream too good to be true?
Now, it could be likely that Hilton makes you decide on one or the other. I still think this is plausible because they have lounge access rooms for sale etc. Even if this worked out perfectly, it may not be a slam dunk for everyone.
Hilton Gold Members
The people that may be left out in the cold would be Hilton Gold members. While they get the same credit amounts as Diamond Elites, which blows my mind a bit, they are not guaranteed lounge access like Diamond Hilton Honors members. There is a decent shot this would still be a possibility for Gold Elites because of how often you get upgraded overseas. I often would end up in a room with Executive Lounge access as my upgrade when traveling internationally as a Gold member. This is not guaranteed though.
Hilton Diamond Members
On the other hand, Diamond members would have it made. They are guaranteed lounge access whenever they stay at a Hilton hotel that offers it. So, if they did not make you choose between the two, a big if for sure, you would be able to double dip this program right and left.
Why This Point May Be Moot
The new terms that came out earlier this month say the following:
Qualification for all on-property Hilton Honors benefits, including complimentary Internet and MyWay benefits such as complimentary snacks and beverages, complimentary continental breakfast OR a Daily Food & Beverage Credit (varies by brand and region)
While the old terms have this language:
Qualification for all on-property Hilton Honors benefits, including complimentary Internet and MyWay benefits such as complimentary snacks and beverages, complimentary continental breakfast (All Inclusive hotels, hotels with Executive Lounges, and non-U.S. only), Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. only , when guest does not have access to Executive Lounge)
Interesting that the old terms specifically call out access to Executive Lounges while the new ones do not. I haven’t been to a US hotel with a lounge open during this change over so I haven’t been able to test how that was enforced. We all know that what terms say and how it goes on the street are not always the same thing.
If you found one of the few (any?) US hotels that had their lounge open during the last year share your experience with access and the credits below.
Final Thoughts
Who knows if this change will ever go out to all international Hilton hotels or not. If it does there is a potential that we may be able to double dip the breakfast and property credit. That all relies on you getting upgraded to a room with Executive Lounge access as a Hilton Gold member. Hilton Diamond members are guaranteed access regardless of room type. What remains to be seen is if Hilton will make it an either or proposal though. They had it in the US terms but it wasn’t really tested. The interesting part, though, is they left that distinction out of the changes for the global terms.
The new terms could simply be an option of continental breakfast for two or property credits. There is room to interpret them that way with how they are written. That really is the best option all around and what people had hoped for in the US. Give people the option between the two and no one will complain about it. I think enough people would take the credits over breakfast to give Hilton a decent discount on their costs.
Lower Spend - Chase Ink Business Preferred® 100K!
Chase Ink Business Preferred® is a powerful card that earns 3X Ultimate Rewards points in a broad range of business categories on the first $150K in spend per year. Right now earn 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points after Learn more about this card and its features!
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
