Hilton made waves in 2021 when it announced that its free breakfast benefit for Gold and Diamond Hilton Honors members would be replaced with a Elite Food & Beverage (F&B) Credit in the United States.
While Hilton said it was a trial till the end of 2021, it was widely expected that the devaluation was here to stay. Sure enough, Hilton has extended its validity indefinitely. It’s since even expanded to select properties outside the United States.
The complimentary Elite F&B Credit is offered as a Hilton Honors MyWay benefit at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Signia by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Motto by Hilton, and Hilton Garden Inn properties in the United States. Properties outside the United States continue to offer complimentary breakfast as a benefit to Hilton’s Diamond and Gold elites.
Given that the credit is here to stay, it’s worth knowing the details of the credit and how it works so you can decide how to maximize its value for your travels
In this post:
Basics of Hilton Honors Elite F&B Credit
The Elite F&B Credit is a complimentary credit offered to Gold and Diamond members of Hilton Honors. The credit can be used for any eligible food or beverage purchases billed to the room, up to the total daily credit value, any time of day. The credit is valid on all eligible bookings by elite members including bookings using points.
See also: Buy Hilton Honors Points With A 100% Bonus
The credit amounts vary depending on the brand and location of the hotel, with a maximum of $25 per person per night for luxury brands, and a minimum of $10 per person per night for Hilton Garden Inn properties. The credit is capped at two people per room, per stay.
The exact amount of the credit per brand is listed in the table and images below.
| U.S. Hotel Brands | Credit Value for 1 guest | Credit Value for 2+ guests |
|---|---|---|
| Waldorf Astoria, LXR, and Conrad | $25 per day | $50 per day |
| Hilton, Signia by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Curio Collection, Tapestry Collection, Canopy, and Motto (higher benefits apply in select markets: Boston, Chicago, DC, Key West, Key Largo, New York City, San Francisco, the County of Los Angeles, and the state of Hawaii) | $12 per day $15 per day in select markets* | $24 per day $30 per day in select markets* |
| Hilton Garden Inn | $10 per day | $20 per day |
To qualify for the Elite F&B Credit, Gold and Diamond members must select it as their MyWay benefit in their online profiles.
The credit is valid at all luxury, full-service, lifestyle, and Hilton Garden Inn properties in the U.S.
Outside the United States
The Elite F&B Credit is only available at Hilton properties in the United States. Outside the United States, the old Hilton Breakfast benefit still applies.
There is, however, one exception. It’s been expanded to Motto by Hilton properties globally. So far, there are two international Motto by Hilton properties: Tulum, Mexico and Rotterdam, Netherlands.
At the Motto by Hilton Tulum, the Elite F&B Credit amount is $12 F&B per person per night. At the Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak, it’s 10€ F&B per person per night.
Using The Elite F&B Credit
The Elite F&B Credit can be applied to any eligible food or beverage purchases billed to the room. It’s intended to be fairly flexible flexible and include room service, on-property restaurants, and grab-and-go markets. The credit is intended to be usable at any time of day, giving members the flexibility to choose when and how they want to use it.
Unlike Hyatt’s Globalist Breakfast Benefit, it’s worth noting that taxes, service charges, and gratuity are not included in the credit.
Most properties seem to pool the credit across the nights of a stay so you can use it at once but that’s something to confirm at each property. And while Hilton advertises the benefit as fairly flexible, many hotels play games with the benefit by limiting where it can be used and how. Enforcement is uneven so if you run into this, you’ll likely have to contact Hilton for compensation.
Is The Elite F&B Credit Better Than Breakfast?
For anyone who regularly eats breakfast at hotels, the F&B credit is a devaluation of Hilton Honors elite status unless they book a rate that includes breakfast. At the amount of the credit, you’re unlikely to be able to get the same continental breakfast that used to be complimentary with Gold or Diamond status.
If your rate includes breakfast, however, then the elite F&B credit stacks on top of your complimentary breakfast allowing you to utilize it for other needs during your stay.
You might also prefer the F&B credit if you’re the type of person who’s unlikely to eat breakfast at all or in the hotel. Then, you’re likely to value having a flexible credit that can be used anytime over a breakfast that you’re unlikely to use.
Bottom line
The Hilton Honors Daily F&B Credit offers Gold and Diamond members the flexibility and choice to dine how and when they want, with varying credit amounts depending on the brand and location of the hotel. Whether you view it as an advantage vis-a-vis the traditional complimentary breakfast depends on your personal habits. The credit can be applied to any eligible food or beverage purchases billed to the room, making it a convenient upgrade from the old breakfast benefit if you’re unlikely to eat breakfast anyway (or have it included in your rate). However, if free breakfast is important to you while traveling, you’re likely to view this as a devaluation since the credit is unlikely to cover breakfast in full at most properties.
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