Our Whine Wednesday today is about the daily breakfast that Globalist members and other guests receive who either book a breakfast rate or otherwise order it during their stay.
Hotels have in many cases still not opened their restaurants or resorted to simply presenting their food items in a pre-packaged way using the old Covid excuse while at the same time restaurants all over the city are open in operation.
It’s really surprising that 18 months into this situation many hotels are still unable to find a universal and sensible way of delivering breakfast to their guests.
As far as Hyatt is concerned where I stayed at their newly opened JDV branded Hotel Tommie Hollywood this week, I have to give them credit that the quality of the items offered is really good.
I just wish I could get a proper plate and cutlery to eat instead of having to awkwardly try and cut large salad leaves or the large toast with lots of toppings in a box, using flimsy disposable plastic cutlery.
This isn’t the first time I’m encountering this problem at Hyatt.
In July I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Seattle that turned into a Compensation Clinic:
Compensation Clinic: Too Many Service Cutbacks At The Hyatt Regency Seattle – Full Refund!
The Grand Hyatt San Francisco on Union Square also didn’t serve any breakfast and guests were directed to pick up items at the coffee shop down in the lobby which even ran out of orange juice.
This stay in Los Angeles wasn’t as bad as the one in Seattle. It didn’t warrant compensation or even a complaint especially as the property just opened and they’re probably still in the process to figure things out at the moment.
Tommie Hollywood is actually quite a nice hotel as far as the setup is concerned. Not sure if these prices can be sustained since we’re talking $250+ and a substantial parking fee (there is a promotional opening rate of $159++). I’d rather stay at the Andaz as a paying customer. It is a very good value proposition for points stays though as it’s a Category 4 property (15,000 points). Full points stays for Globalist members come with free parking and waived “Destination Fees”. The staff is very friendly and probably the hotel’s biggest asset at the moment.
I’m not exactly sure where a hotel in a filthy LA/Hollywood neighborhood – encircled with tents from homeless people – finds the audacity to charge a destination (resort/scam) fee but that’s a whole other matter. Even more so the Thompson next door which considers itself a luxury hotel and charges accordingly. Mind-blowing!
Conclusion
Hotels and Hyatt in particular need to get their act together and find a better way to provide guests with food & beverage options, especially breakfast. I have no problem eating in the room as long as proper plates and cutlery are provided. Better than cowering on a semi-table in the lobby eating like I’m on a camping trip while staying at a property where headline rates of several hundred dollars are common.
