Your guide to Marriott breakfast benefits for Platinum Elite and higher members

your-guide-to-marriott-breakfast-benefits-for-platinum-elite-and-higher-members

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Some Marriott brands, such as SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn, offer complimentary breakfast to all guests as a brand amenity. For stays at most other Marriott brands, though, it’s more complicated for Platinum Elite and higher members. They may get complimentary breakfast via lounge access or by selecting breakfast as an elite welcome gift at check-in.

I stay in Marriott hotels for about 90 days each year, yet I still frequently refer to the Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions to determine my breakfast benefits at each brand. I wanted an easier place to see the breakfast benefits available to Marriott members with Platinum Elite or higher status, so here’s your ultimate source for Marriott elite breakfast benefits.

Marriott breakfast benefits for Platinum Elite and higher members

Marriott Bonvoy members with Platinum Elite or higher status have several ways in which they may get complimentary breakfast during their stays:

  • Included breakfast for all guests
  • Complimentary breakfast as an elite welcome gift
  • Guaranteed lounge access
Breakfast at Le Meridien Maldives
Breakfast at Le Meridien Maldives. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

In the following sections, we’ll discuss these options before providing a table summarizing your breakfast benefits at each Marriott brand.

Related: Marriott elite status: What it is and how to earn it

Marriott brands with breakfast for all guests

The simplest scenario occurs when you stay at one of the following brands that offer complimentary breakfast to all guests as a brand amenity:

  • Element (except in Asia Pacific)
  • Fairfield by Marriott (except in Asia Pacific)
  • Residence Inn
  • SpringHill Suites
  • TownePlace Suites
Breakfast at the Fairfield Times Square
Breakfast at the Fairfield by Marriott New York Manhattan Times Square in New York City. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

Unfortunately, the two brands that offer complimentary breakfast for all guests except in Asia Pacific — Element and Fairfield — don’t let Platinum Elite and higher members choose daily complimentary breakfast as an elite welcome gift. Instead, members can choose 500 Marriott points per stay or a food-and-beverage amenity per stay as their elite welcome gift when staying in Asia Pacific at these brands.

Related: Which hotel has the best free breakfast? TPG ate 10 meals to find the winner

Daily breakfast as an elite welcome gift

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite and higher members can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for themselves and a guest as an elite welcome gift at the following brands:

  • Aloft Hotels
  • Autograph Collection Hotels (only resorts)
  • City Express by Marriott (only City Centro locations)
  • Delta Hotels (only resorts)
  • Four Points by Sheraton
  • Four Points Flex (only if the hotel has an open restaurant that a third party doesn’t operate)
  • JW Marriott (only at resorts)
  • Le Meridien
  • Marriott Hotels (only resorts)
  • Protea Hotels
  • Renaissance Hotels (only resorts)
  • Sheraton
  • St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
  • The Luxury Collection
  • Tribute Portfolio
  • W Hotels
  • Westin Hotels & Resorts
Chaya breakfast spread. St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya
Breakfast at The St. Regis Kanai Resort in Mexico. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY

Of course, by selecting breakfast as an elite welcome gift, you usually forgo other options, such as bonus points or food-and-beverage credit. However, assuming you’ll get value from breakfast, it’s usually the best choice when it’s available.

Related: How to get Marriott Bonvoy elite status for life

Marriott breakfast via lounge access

If you have Platinum Elite or higher status, you’ll get lounge access for yourself and up to one guest staying in the same room during stays at the following brands:

  • Autograph Collection (excluding resort properties)
  • Courtyard by Marriott (only at properties outside the U.S. and Canada that have a lounge)
  • Delta Hotels (excluding resort properties)
  • JW Marriott (excluding resort properties)
  • Le Meridien
  • Marriott Hotels (excluding resort properties)
  • Renaissance Hotels (excluding resort properties)
  • Sheraton
  • Westin Hotels & Resorts
View from the lounge at the Sheraton Le Centre Montreal. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
View from the lounge at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel in Canada. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

If you have more than one guest in your room — including children — you may need to pay extra to bring these additional guests with you into the lounge.

This lounge access benefit for Platinum Elite and higher members is guaranteed for some stays, with alternates and compensation provided as follows:

Brand What happens when the lounge is closed or the property doesn’t have a lounge (or an approved alternative)? What compensation can you claim if a lounge isn’t available and the property doesn’t offer continental breakfast or a suitable alternative?
Autograph Collection, Delta Hotels, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels and Renaissance Hotels (all excluding resorts) Properties in the U.S., Canada and Europe should offer the member a choice of daily breakfast (continental in the U.S. and Canada) in the restaurant for the member and a guest or 750 points per night.

Properties in other regions should offer continental breakfast or a continental breakfast alternative.

 $100
Courtyard by Marriott (properties outside the U.S. and Canada that have a lounge) If the lounge is closed, the property should offer breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. None
Le Meridien, Sheraton and Westin Hotels & Resorts Nothing (although you can select breakfast in the restaurant for yourself and a guest as an elite welcome gift). None

Finally, it’s worth noting that the following properties offer 1,000 points instead of continental breakfast in the hotel restaurant when their lounge is closed through Dec. 31, 2024:

  • Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
  • JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square
  • Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
  • Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

Related: How much value does Marriott Bonvoy status provide when you book directly?

Overview of Marriott elite breakfast benefits

If you’re looking for a single source to explain Marriott breakfast benefits for Platinum Elite and higher members, bookmark this post so you can reference the following table:

Brand Is breakfast included for all guests? Can you select breakfast as an elite welcome gift? Do you get lounge access?
AC Hotels No No No
Aloft Hotels No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. No
Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy No No No
Autograph Collection No At resort properties, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. Yes, but this excludes resort properties. (See above section for what happens if the property doesn’t have an open lounge.)
City Express by Marriott No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest at City Centro properties (not offered at other City Express properties). No
Courtyard by Marriott No No This is only at properties outside the U.S. and Canada with a lounge. (See above section for what happens when the lounge is closed.)
Delta Hotels No At resort properties, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. Yes, but this excludes resort properties. (See above section for what happens if the property doesn’t have an open lounge.)
Design Hotels No No No
Edition No No No
Element Yes, except in Asia Pacific No No
Fairfield by Marriott Yes, except in Asia Pacific No No
Four Points​ by Sheraton No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. No
Four Points Flex (formally known as Four Points Express by Sheraton) No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest unless the property doesn’t have a restaurant, the restaurant is closed or a third party operates the restaurant. No
Gaylord Hotels No No No
Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy No No No
JW Marriott No At resort properties, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. Yes, but this excludes resort properties. (See above section for what happens if the property doesn’t have an open lounge.)
Le Meridien No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. Yes, if the property has an open lounge.
Marriott Executive Apartments No No No
Marriott Hotels No At resort properties, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. Yes, but excluding resort properties (see above section for what happens if the property doesn’t have an open lounge).
Marriott Vacation Clubs No No No
MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy No No No
Moxy Hotels No No No
Protea Hotels No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. No
Renaissance Hotels No At resort properties, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. Yes, but excluding resort properties (see above section for what happens if the property doesn’t have an open lounge).
Residence Inn Yes No No
Ritz-Carlton No No No
Ritz-Carlton Reserve No No No
Sheraton No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. Yes, this applies if the property has an open lounge.
SpringHill Suites Yes No No
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. No
The Luxury Collection No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. No
TownePlace Suites Yes No No
Tribute Portfolio No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. No
W Hotels No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. No
Westin Hotels & Resorts No Yes, you can select daily breakfast in the restaurant for the member and a guest. Yes, this applies if the property has an open lounge.

Platinum Elite and higher members can sometimes select a food-and-beverage credit or amenity as an elite welcome gift at some brands. This credit or amenity is usually worth less than what breakfast would cost at the hotel. For example, I’ll usually select a $10 food-and-beverage credit per night for my husband and me when staying at Moxy Hotels. This credit has never been enough to cover breakfast at a Moxy property, but it will usually cover a few beers each night at the lobby bar.

Related: Why this playful brand won the TPG Award for Best Affordable Hotel Brand

Bottom line

I wish Marriott Bonvoy would simplify its breakfast benefits for Platinum Elite and higher members. After all, members who stay that frequently shouldn’t need to check a chart or the terms and conditions before each stay to determine whether they’ll get complimentary breakfast.

However, given the current program and its benefits, I hope you find the above tables and lists useful. I’ll reference them when booking hotel stays and before I reach the check-in desk.

If you’re wondering how to earn Platinum Elite or higher status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, know the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers automatic Platinum Elite status as a cardmember benefit. But you can also earn elite night credits from other Marriott credit cards that may let you snag Platinum Elite or higher status even if you don’t stay at Marriott brands frequently.

Related reading:

  • Best Marriott hotels in the world
  • The best Marriott beach hotels in the United States
  • The best Marriott all-inclusive resorts for a perfect vacation
  • Best Marriott credit cards
  • Why I want this Marriott credit card — even though the annual fee is high
  • Which credit card should you use for Marriott stays?
  • Here’s why you need both a personal and business Marriott Bonvoy credit card

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