A LoyaltyLobby sent us a question via DM on Twitter regarding a complimentary breakfast at Marriott’s Fairfield-hotels in Asia.
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Here’s the question from a reader:
Hi John, do you know if there’s any official rule re: breakfast benefits for Platinum/Titanium Bonvoy members at the Asian Fairfield by Marriott properties? Do Fairfields in Asia provides breakfast as the welcome amenity or what’s the arrangement?
I have not stayed at a Fairfield property in Asia where they are popping up in Japan at the moment.
However, I have at quite a few Courtyards that provide far superior benefits in the area than in North America, including executive lounges and lavish restaurants in Japan and other countries (Hong Kong & Thailand).
As this was unclear to me, I decided to contact Marriott.
Response from the Marriott spokesperson:
The welcome gift for the Fairfield Inn brand is:
Gold member – 250 points only
Platinum and above – 500 points or F&B amenity
At Fairfield Inn in the US/Canada, free breakfast is offered to all guests. Fairfield Inn in Asia operates differently and does not offer a free breakfast guests.
Marriott has some confusion when it comes to the Fairfield Inn/Fairfield brand and what benefits elite members can expect.
I couldn’t get an answer if Platinum and higher members can choose a breakfast instead of the 500 welcome amenity points or F&B credit, like at many brands that don’t have lounges or offer complimentary breakfast such as daily $10 F&B per person credit (max two people) at Courtyards in North America.
Conclusion
Everyone, regardless of elite status, gets a complimentary breakfast at Fairfield-hotels in the United States and Canada. It seems that now when this brand expands to other markets, there will be exclusions.
This is not ideal from the branding perspective. How can guests know, like the reader, what to expect? Let’s hope that these Fairfields in Japan allow Platinum and higher members to choose breakfast as their F&B option instead of the 500 amenity points.
However, I have to say that I don’t mind staying at Courtyards in Asia, where they are more like full-service hotels than too many dumps in North America.
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I researched the Fairfield Seoul over a year ago and they didn’t offer Plats+ breakfast, even as an amenity. So, you need to book a rate that includes breakfast if that matters.
Most Fairfields in Japan don’t offer breakfast at all as they have no restaurants on site. Exceptions are Osaka Namba and Sapporo. Fairfield Osaka Namba did offer free breakfast for Elites for the first few weeks after opening, but stopped this policy in the meantime.
That’s the one I was at, Osaka Namba, definitely no free Elite breakfast in October 2020. It was something ridiculous like 1500 or 2000 yen per person. Anyone who’s not Japanese and gone to a Western Hotel breakfast in Japan knows it’s very very limited for Western tastes. We ordered UberEats instead for 1000 yen for both.
In China，all public rate include breakfast.
Stayed at Fairfield Busan Songdo Beach last month and had to pay for their awful breakfast. All five Courtyards in Korea offered lounge access, suite upgrades and breakfast at their excellent properties however.
I fully agree that Courtyards in Asia are excellent. Much more like one of the Marriott full-service hotels, … and often better!
Fairfields are more hit-and-miss. I have had breakfasts included, though, such as at the Fairfield in Shanghai — but I don’t know if that was as a TE benefit or for everyone.
Basically, complimentary breakfast is NOT offered in Japan as the note in Fairfield official web site. I think TKG, Tamago Kake Gohan, is good enough for free breakfast;)
It certainly would be nice if they’d apply the benefit worldwide so there is consistency. I made the same mistake, going to a Fairfield in Osaka assuming it’d have the free Breakfast, but alas, surprised on check in, in Japan no free breakfast.
I am still finding that the vast majority of Marriott properties are still offering points and not complimentary breakfasts for Titanium. There isn’t even a choice of breakfast or points. Just points BUT you can buy breakfast for two for $$ in the same restaurant they offered free breakfast two years ago
BTW in every Marriott property other than RItz Carlton you don’t get daily housekeeping or turndown service either.
Marriott claims that benefits have returned at properties. Frankly I haven’t seen it
Been to 2 Fairfields, both in Indonesia
Fairfield Bali Kuta Sunset Road: free breakfast which was decently comparable to a Courtyard’s
Fairfield Surabaya: free breakfast too but food was a lot worse, and the hotel is old. Fortunately, you can get local food delivered for <$3 anyway so you're not out much