Marriott Bonvoy has 140 million members, meaning it’s probably the largest loyalty program in the world. It’s used across the company’s 30 brands in over 7,000 properties globally. One of the most valuable benefits of Marriott Bonvoy is its complimentary breakfast benefit for members with Bonvoy Platinum status or above.
For elite members of the Marriott Bonvoy program, the benefit provides a convenient and complimentary breakfast to start the day. But with thousands of properties across 131 countries, there’s a quite complicated set of rules and nuances to keep in mind. There’s even a lot of inconsistency within individual brands.
This guide takes an in-depth look at what Bonvoy promises for its complimentary breakfast benefit for elites, how it works, and how it’s implemented at participating Marriott brands. The program has convoluted rules so you’ll want to bookmark this page to reference while booking your next stay to confirm what you’re entitled to and can expect during your next stay.
In this post:
Marriott Bonvoy Free Elite Breakfast Benefit Eligibility
Marriott Bonvoy has 5 published levels of elite status: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador (in ascending order). The Bonvoy elite breakfast benefit is available to Platinum elite members and above.
In other words, Marriott Bonvoy does not offer any sort of breakfast benefit for Silver and Gold elite members. Meanwhile, Titanium elites and Ambassadors receive the same elite breakfast benefit as Platinum members. There’s no incremental benefit in this area for higher status.
That said, at the world’s largest hotel chain, what that breakfast looks like is highly dependent on the property and brand in question.
This isn’t a consistent offering like the complimentary breakfast Hyatt Globalists enjoy but the Marriott free breakfast benefit is offered to far more members starting at the mid-level Platinum level at Marriott.
Which Brands Honor the Marriott Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit?
Marriott built its portfolio through management agreements, acquisitions, and organic growth with properties spread out across over 30 brands. Each brand, some of which don’t even participate in Marriott Bonvoy, seems to have a unique policy.
There’s even inconsistency within brands on how the published benefit is applied and no shortage of Marriott hotels playing games with elite benefits (a phenomenon known as getting “Bonvoyed“).
In general, Marriott brands can be split into four categories when it comes to breakfast:
- At some Marriott brands, the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit means elite members can select a complimentary breakfast as their elite welcome amenity choice.
- Other Marriott brands offer a food & beverage credit for elite members as an elite welcome amenity choice. The credit can be used for breakfast or another F&B.
- Some Marriott brands give every guest, regardless of status, a complimentary breakfast.
- Other Marriott brands don’t offer any guests complimentary breakfast on account of status or do not participate in the Bonvoy program at all.
One of Marriott’s biggest acquisitions was its acquisition of Starwood which was completed years ago.
While the integration of former Starwood brands into Marriott Bonvoy is long ago complete, they generally continue to do a better job honoring elite benefits including breakfast than legacy Marriott brands. Even in Marriott’s list of best hotel elite breakfasts, 3 of 4 are at Starwood-acquired brands.
So let’s see where each Marriott brand falls on the breakfast scale.
Marriott Brands with the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit
This is the simplest category. At these hotels, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador members can select a complimentary breakfast in the restaurant as their elite welcome amenity choice if there’s no lounge.
If there’s a lounge, the free breakfast for Platinum elites and above may be in the lounge.
- Aloft
- Courtyard by Marriott (with lounge)
- Four Points
- Le Méridien
- Protea Hotels
- Sheraton
- St. Regis
- The Luxury Collection
- Tribute Portfolio
- W Hotels
- Westin
Meanwhile, at the Marriott brands below, the benefit depends on whether the hotel is considered a resort or a hotel.
At resorts, the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit means a complimentary breakfast in the restaurant for two. At hotels, Platinum elites and above can get lounge access where breakfast will be served.
- Autograph Collection
- Delta Hotels
- JW Marriott
- Marriott Hotels
- Renaissance Hotels
But there’s a further wrinkle at these hotels. If the lounge at an Autograph Collection, Delta, JW Marriott, Marriott, or Renaissance Hotel is closed, then a complimentary continental breakfast for two will be offered.
That is… unless the hotel is one of the properties exempt from providing elite breakfast benefits listed in the fine print of Marriott Bonvoy’s terms & conditions 👀
Marriotts with an Elite F&B Credit
AC Hotels, Moxy, and Courtyard properties without a lounge offer elite members a $10 F&B credit per guest (with a maximum of $20 per room) per day instead of a full breakfast in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
In practice, it’s quite similar to the Hilton Honors elite F&B credit that replaced breakfast at Hilton hotels in North America.
- AC Hotels by Marriott
- Courtyard by Marriott (without lounge)
- Moxy Hotels
Outside of the U.S., Canada, and Europe, the amount of the maximum daily F&B credit per room at AC Hotels and Moxy Hotels is $10 instead of $20.
Marriotts with Free Breakfast for Everyone
Largely in the select-service market, some Marriott brands offer every guest a free breakfast with their booking. There is no breakfast benefit for elite members beyond what everyone gets at these properties.
- Element by Weston*
- Fairfield by Marriott
- Residence Inn by Marriott
- SpringHill Suites
- TownePlace Suites
If you’re a platinum member or above, you’ll still get a welcome amenity (usually a handful of points) at these properties.
City Express by Marriott is a new acquisition that hasn’t yet been integrated to Marriott Bonvoy and offers no elite benefits, but it also offers all guests complimentary breakfast.
*Meanwhile, at Element hotels located in the Asia Pacific, breakfast may not be included for all guests but would be complimentary for Bonvoy Platinums and above.
Marriott Brands With No Breakfast Benefit
On the other side of the scale are hotels that don’t offer free breakfast to guests, elite or otherwise.
This list includes luxury Marriott brands like EDITION or Ritz-Carlton that, for whatever reason, are exempt from providing breakfast. Vacation Club and Executive Club more understandably fall into this category since they generally won’t have a restaurant.
In addition, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts are marketed by Marriott but don’t participate in Bonvoy and do not offer any breakfast benefits to elites.
Either way, if you’re booking a stay at these brands, don’t expect to be offered the Bonvoy elite breakfast benefit — the entitlement doesn’t extend to them:
- Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts
- Design Hotels
- EDITION
- Gaylord
- Marriott Executive Apartments
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Ritz-Carlton
Properties Exempt From the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit
In addition to brands that are fully exempt from the breakfast benefit, a number of hotels in brands that usually provide breakfast are specifically written into the terms as exempt.
These hotels are listed in the fine print of Section 4.3.c.iv.A. in the Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions. If their lounge is closed, they can get away with offering just 1,000 points per room instead of breakfast.
- The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection
- Boston Marriott Copley Place
- Boston Marriott Long Wharf
- Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
- JW Marriott Essex House New York City
- JW Marriott New Orleans
- JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square
- JW Marriott Washington, D.C.
- The Lexington Hotel, Autograph Collection
- Monterey Marriott
- New York Marriott Marquis
- Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
- Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel
- Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
- Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel
- Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel
- Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel
- Renaissance Washington, D.C. Downtown Hotel
- Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Table of Marriott Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit by Brand
If you’re confused by all of this, you’re not alone. Bonvoy’s breakfast benefit is quite convoluted and its doubtful that anyone except the most dedicated Marriott loyalist would remember its ins and outs across over 30 brands from memory.
Given the brand’s inconsistency in applying the benefit, it’s helpful to know what you’re entitled to so you can push back if necessary. So we brought it all together in this table.
| Marriott Brand | Breakfast Benefit |
|---|---|
| AC Hotels by Marriott | A recent acquisition that hasn’t (yet) been integrated into Marriott Bonvoy but offers a complimentary breakfast to all guests. |
| Aloft Hotels | Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is honored for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the restaurant as an elite status welcome amenity choice or in the lounge as a Platinum Elite benefit. |
| Autograph Collection | At resort properties, the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is a complimentary restaurant breakfast for the member plus one. At hotels, the benefit is lounge access. If the lounge is closed, the hotel will offer a continental breakfast for two. |
| Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts | While bookable on Marriott.com, Bvlgari doesn’t participate in Marriott Bonvoy and doesn’t offer an elite breakfast benefit. |
| City Express by Marriott | Recent acquisition that hasn’t (yet) been integrated into Marriott Bonvoy but offers a complimentary breakfast to all guests. |
| Courtyard by Marriott | Marriott Bonvoy brand that offers a $10 F&B credit per guest (with a maximum of $20 per room) per day instead of the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit at properties without a lounge. Hotels with lounges honor the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the lounge. |
| Delta Hotels | At resort properties, the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is a complimentary restaurant breakfast for the member plus one. At hotels, the benefit is lounge access. If the lounge is closed, the hotel will offer a continental breakfast for two. |
| Design Hotels | Marriott Bonvoy brand that doesn’t offer the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit or any F&B credit. |
| EDITION Hotels | Marriott Bonvoy brand that doesn’t offer the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit or any F&B credit. |
| Element by Westin | Complimentary breakfast to all guests. |
| Fairfield by Marriott | Complimentary breakfast to all guests. |
| Four Points by Sheraton | Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is honored for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the restaurant as an elite status welcome amenity choice or in the lounge as a Platinum Elite benefit. |
| Gaylord Hotels | Marriott Bonvoy brand that doesn’t offer the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit or any F&B credit. |
| Homes & Villas by Marriott International | No breakfast benefit. |
| JW Marriott Hotels | At resort properties, the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is a complimentary restaurant breakfast for the member plus one. At hotels, the benefit is lounge access. If the lounge is closed, the hotel will offer a continental breakfast for two. |
| Le Méridien | Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is honored for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the restaurant as an elite status welcome amenity choice or in the lounge as a Platinum Elite benefit. |
| The Luxury Collection | Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is honored for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the restaurant as an elite status welcome amenity choice or in the lounge as a Platinum Elite benefit. |
| Marriott Executive Apartments | Marriott Bonvoy brand that doesn’t offer the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit or any F&B credit. |
| Marriott Hotels & Resorts | At resort properties, the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is a complimentary restaurant breakfast for the member plus one. At hotels, the benefit is lounge access. If the lounge is closed, the hotel will offer a continental breakfast for two. |
| Marriott Vacation Club | Marriott Bonvoy brand that doesn’t offer the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit or any F&B credit. |
| Moxy Hotels | Marriott Bonvoy brand that offers a $10 F&B credit per guest (with a maximum of $20 per room) per day instead of the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit. Outside of the U.S., Canada, and Europe, the maximum per room is $10 instead of $20. |
| Protea Hotels by Marriott | Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is honored for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the restaurant as an elite status welcome amenity choice or in the lounge as a Platinum Elite benefit. |
| Renaissance Hotels | At resort properties, the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is a complimentary restaurant breakfast for the member plus one. At hotels, the benefit is lounge access. If the lounge is closed, the hotel will offer a continental breakfast for two. |
| Residence Inn by Marriott | Complimentary breakfast to all guests. |
| The Ritz-Carlton | Marriott Bonvoy brand that doesn’t offer the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit or any F&B credit. |
| Ritz-Carlton Reserve | Marriott Bonvoy brand that doesn’t offer the Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit or any F&B credit. |
| Sheraton Hotels and Resorts | Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is honored for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the restaurant as an elite status welcome amenity choice or in the lounge as a Platinum Elite benefit. |
| SpringHill Suites | Complimentary breakfast to all guests. |
| St. Regis Hotels & Resorts | Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is honored for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the restaurant as an elite status welcome amenity choice or in the lounge as a Platinum Elite benefit. |
| TownePlace Suites | Complimentary breakfast to all guests. |
| Tribute Portfolio | Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is honored for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the restaurant as an elite status welcome amenity choice or in the lounge as a Platinum Elite benefit. |
| W Hotels | Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is honored for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the restaurant as an elite status welcome amenity choice or in the lounge as a Platinum Elite benefit. |
| Westin Hotels | Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit is honored for Platinums and above plus one guest either in the restaurant as an elite status welcome amenity choice or in the lounge as a Platinum Elite benefit. |
Bottom line
The Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit can be a useful perk for Bonvoy Platinums, Titaniums, and Ambassadors but it’s probably the most confusing breakfast benefit offered by any loyalty program. Not only does it vary by brand, the benefit can change depending on region, whether the property has an open lounge, and whether it’s categorized as a resort or hotel. Whew. You’ll definitely want to bookmark this page and confirm what you’re entitled to at the property you’re booking if a complimentary on-property breakfast is an important benefit for you.
Thanks for the helpful article. Is there a way to tell if a certain Marriott hotel or renaissance hotel is considered a “resort” for benefit purposes?