In May (read more here), Hilton announced that its affiliated hotels in the United States would temporarily move away from complimentary Gold and Diamond member breakfast benefit between July 1 – December 31, 2021.
Instead, Gold and Diamond members + 1 guest would get a daily F&B credit, which is brand and location-specific. Hilton has not officially released the table above that we have acquired by other means.
You can access Hilton here.
READ MORE: Hilton Honors Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
There were questions from the readers about what brands Hilton considers Luxury, Full Service, and Life Style, and I have compiled the list below.
Remember that you should always make the reservation for two to get the maximum daily F&B credit.
Luxury
- Waldorf Astoria
- Conrad
- LXR
Full Service
- Hilton
- Signia
- Curio Collection
- Tapestry Collection
- DoubleTree
Lifestyle
- Canopy
- Tempo
- Motto
Pros & Cons of Daily F&B Credit
Pros
– Some skip breakfast and can use the credit later
– You may leave early when the breakfast is not available – you can use the credit in the evening
– Business travelers can expense the breakfast – can use the credit for other F&B expenses
– Some may prefer breakfast on some days and other F&B options on others
Cons
– Must be used daily – is not cumulative
– Likely not cover breakfast beyond coffee and a muffin
– “Temporary” until the end of 2021 (wouldn’t surprise me if it is extended due to “positive” feedback from the members)
Hilton Hawaiin Village Breakfast Menu
Continental breakfast with coffee and juice would set you back $35 with tax (before a tip). Your daily F&B credit would cover $15 of this.
Breakfasts are still good at Hilton Hotels outside of the US!
Fabulous Friday: Hilton Hotels In The Nordics
Conclusion
I would be all for this IF it would be YOUR choice, and you could make a choice daily between the breakfast or F&B credit.
As I have demonstrated above, the daily F&B credit at many locations won’t cover even half of the cost of the continental breakfast with coffee and juice.
The Hilton-affiliated hotels in the United States must feel the cost pressure due to all elite members through credit cards (corporate collects the cash). At the same time, they are left with the cost of delivering the benefits such as the breakfast (the most profitable F&B product for the hotels).
![Airfare of the Day [Business Class] AMERICAN AIRLINES New York to Zurich from $1,828](https://cdn4.loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/xbridge-g520bbd023_1280-ZURICH-120x86.jpg.pagespeed.ic.ibz9Tbl7KK.jpg)
Definitely a cost cutting measure taken advantage of during covid-19 pandemic. Considering it goes into effect after everything is opening back up and travel normalizing validates that fact. I have a feeling it was something on the table at Hilton for a while, however pre-pandemic there was no easy way to implement it. Agree @John Ollila this will soon get officially introduced “due to popular demand” at some stage by end of year.
This is absolute rubbish. I used to be able to count on all hilton properties providing me and my husband with free breakfast. These credits will only partially cover breakfast for one.
And they aren’t even high enough to cover an evening cocktail.
Mariottes platinum breakfasts may be a bit hit or miss, but at least the status comes with a guarunteed late check out. Hilton needs to step up their game.
Depending of location and amount of credit, this may be ok. I often leave hotel too early for breakfast (flying out at 7am), so if it could be used for something else the day before – ok.
The beginning of the end? Quite possibly. It was maybe naive of me to think that Hilton would stop cutting away at the product after devaluing HH points several times and, in Europe, replacing the most expensive spirits and wines in their lounges with what often amounts to cheap plonk and reducing or removing the afternoon tea offering but it seems that they are not yet happy enough. Maybe to some guests, exchanging breakfast for a voucher that’s probably worth about two cups of tea in many Hiltons, could be the last straw… it certainly might be for me, if implemented Worldwide. It is already a deal-breaker for my future stays in USA. I have just booked 21 nights with Hilton and was in the process of booking 12 more, for this year. As a Diamond member of about 20 years, I sincerely hope I won’t be forced into looking elsewhere but everyone has a limit. As with other hotel groups and also airlines, the future looks like being a case of booking the best deal on the day – as loyalty schemes are quickly becoming a thing of the past…
Problem is in US most major hotel chains are already very subpar compared to their overseas properties. Hilton in Australia and Asia are 5 star hotels compared to 3 star in US. Boutique hotels in US may be the better way to go.
I’m sure you’re right.
I’m a long-time Hilton Diamond and complained immediately after I heard the ‘rumor’ that Hilton was ‘temporarily’ changing for 2nd half of this year from free breakfast for elite members to the daily F & B credit. I sent an email to Corp HQ and asked that it be shown to and responded by Hilton’s CEO. A week later I got a call from the Hilton Corp Office from a ‘fixer’ person saying that all was well, that the as-yet-determined (at the time) F & B credit amount would cover what the breakfast cost (it does not) and that this was just a ‘test’ till the end of this year. The question they could not answer to me, is that if all this is true – then why didn’t they just let elite members have the CHOICE – if either the F & B credit OR the breakfast. This is a big sham and I’m very disappointed after almost 800 lifetime nights with Hilton at this juncture. Of course it’s a pure cost-cutting move and they think people are stupid. Loyal travelers need to hedge their bets in the future
Lifetime Diamond here — Hilton didn’t need a “test” to know that replacing a complimentary breakfast with a less-than-adequate F&B voucher was going to infuriate the majority of us. Only thing Hilton is testing here is the limits of our loyalty. They found mine.
I’m a lifetime diamond too. I find it liberating- I can seek out and try other brands without being a slave to Hilton. When the hot breakfast returns in the USA, I’ll be back.
This would be a perfect time for another chain to offer a match to lifetime top tier benefits for lifetime Hilton diamonds.
I have mixed feelings. In the early days, the benefit was only “continental” breakfast, although, as a (often returning) diamond, I was usually upgraded to a full breakfast (usually a buffet) at the high tier hotels. Low tier had a purchasable upgrade that was usually reasonable (counting tip).
I have to admit enjoying the recent accommodations of breakfast wherever (restaurant or lounge). If the hotel was not offering it, I would ask at check-in. I avoid the hotels that stick strictly to “the rules,” except for HGI.
Overall, the change would not be a gamechanger for me, especially as I would ask for and probably get the free upgrade! I am generally happy with Hilton’s recognition of the value of my custom!
If this were implemented worldwide, I’d cease achieving Diamond status with Hilton for sure.
Making Diamond status even more worthless. It’s a shame as this very small credit is really not worth much. It should be at least doubled to have some real value. I am personally so very disappointed with Hilton Honors these days. They have made the status and product so poor. I find better services with a (gulp) Holiday Inn.
I think they can fine tune this program by giving credits no less than the breakfast price that hotel charges. So, for example, if this hotel charge $60 for breakfast, then the credit should be min $60. Hilton corporate can do so by requiring hotel to give additional voucher on top of credit that is the same for every hotel.
This is a scam by Hilton, pure and simple.
If Hilton had the least interest in doing anything to help the customer, they would offer the customer a choice of breakfast or f&b credit upon check in.
So if a Gold/Diamond member has breakfast included during stay, the credit can be used for other restaurant expenses ?
Yes, that’s what I read on another blog.
This Hilton benefit cost-cutting amounts to making the breakfast benefit a 1/3 to 2/3 off % coupon for what is a high priced breakfast that is becoming ever more expensive. Watch the Hilton breakfast prices rise faster than the $-off benefit amount.
I wont stay at hiltons in the US now. I booked IHG for an upcoming trip as the hilton had no lounge and the IHG hotel was half the price. GG hilton.
I’m now completely avoiding Hilton hotels in the US based on this policy. Not even checking their rates. It’s a stupid move.
As a few others have said….this is a complete joke and we all should complain to the Hilton Corporate office and the Honors Desk. So the $10 credit at a Garden Inn won’t cover their standard breakfast buffet-their only option when the restaurants are open and operating/serving-and it’s the same amount in high-cost cities like New York. I’m a Diamond and may look to switch to the lower end chains that include breakfast if the Hilton doesn’t have an operational Executive Lounge. Again, let them know that this is a total devaluation of benefits.
I stayed at 3 different Hilton last week
Belamar Manhattan Beach, Doubletree Fullerton and Hilton San Diego Bayfront. The first 2 did not honor the 2 person booking while the HSDB did. Then the price on the menu always means that you have to pay more even for simple breakfast. The most outrageous is HSDB where the tacked on an additional $35 vacation package and give you a $15 credit, one hour bike rental n one hour paddle boat. The fine print says the credit does not apply to tax and tips and they imposed a compulsory 20% tips on self collect or dine in. Even the $24 credit for 2, I can get one breakfast only snd still have to pay. I think they are uding the Covid excuse too far. A few weeks before, I was at the Hilton Munich and they serve a full breakfast.
I stayed at 3 different Hilton last week
Belamar Manhattan Beach, Doubletree Fullerton and Hilton San Diego Bayfront. The first 2 did not honor the 2 person booking while the HSDB did. Then the price on the menu always means that you have to pay more even for simple breakfast. The most outrageous is HSDB where the tacked on an additional $35 vacation package and give you a $15 credit, one hour bike rental n one hour paddle boat. The fine print says the credit does not apply to tax and tips and they imposed a compulsory 20% tips on self collect or dine in. Even the $24 credit for 2, I can get one breakfast only snd still have to pay. I think they are uding the Covid excuse too far. A few weeks before, I was at the Hilton Munich and they serve a full breakfast.
My experience has been rather disappointing. In one Hilton resort, the daily credit covered one breakfast so we got take out every day and split the breakfast. And that one breakfast came with no beverages. Even when Hilton breakfast covered only continental, you still had breakfast drinks. Plus the final day daily credit wouldn’t post toy account until midnight the day after we departed so pay now and get a credit back later which it never did and I had to call and request it. At another resort Hilton garden inn the daily cost covered a grab and go with a couple of hot items. The breakfast me er changed and got very boring as it wasn’t much to choose from. The cooked to order breakfast you normally received was 50% more so your free breakfast for two would now cost $10 per day plus tax and tip. This is hardly a better benefit and I can’t imagine people asked for this. Plus someone else’s breakfast got charged to me. The hotel staff don’t like these changes and as a lifetime diamond member I will be formally complaining to Hilton.
Shame, shame, shame on Hilton. This $10 daily credit is ludicrous, and whoever thought up this policy has no interest in customer satisfaction or loyalty. I’m a 17 year Diamond member, and just returned from the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai. It used to have a nice rotating daily breakfast special, and now, just the $10 credit. There is a huge inconvenience at a minimum if you have a big day ahead, whether business or pleasure, and leave the hotel on an empty stomach. Won’t bring back fond memories and loyalty.
I agree with many that we should have the choice of breakfast or credit. Hilton wants us to be loyal to them, but isn’t giving us the same loyalty and respect. I’m hugely disappointed, and am considering another loyalty program. My friends love the Marriott program and enjoy staying at the Ritz!
Not a good decision on Hilton’s part. $12 worth of snacks and sugary drinks for two people do not adaquately substitute for a hot breakfast. Hilton is not my first choice for lodging, in fact it is not even in the top five! The Hiltons I have been stayiing at have also cut their housekeeping services to by request only. That’s a PITA when you have to keep doing it for a multi-day stay. I am highly disappointed in Hilton!
Not a good decision on Hilton’s part. $12 worth of snacks and sugary drinks for two people do not adaquately substitute for a hot breakfast. Hilton is not my first choice for lodging, in fact it is not even in the top five! The Hiltons I have been stayiing at have also cut their housekeeping services to by request only. That’s a PITA when you have to keep doing it for a multi-day stay. I am highly disappointed in Hilton!