A LoyaltyLobby reader sent us a case about the Gold and Diamond member breakfast at the Conrad Seoul hotel, which appears to have undergone some changes.
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You can access the Conrad Seoul website here.
READ MORE: Hilton Honors Rate & Bonus Points Offers
Reader’s Question:
Hi, I found out that Hilton has modified breakfast policy for diamond and gold member outside United States.
I was told by Conrad Seoul that they don’t provide free breakfast for gold member and diamond member, and diamond member could only go executive lounge for breakfast.
We are pleased to inform you about an enhancement to your Hilton Honors Diamond membership benefits (Effective January 1, 2025).
Starting January 2025, the complimentary breakfast benefit for Diamond members will now be exclusively available at the Executive Lounge (37th floor).
I also see people were taking about this from Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Hilton/comments/1i7bem2/conrad_seoul_no_more_free_breakfast_for_gold/
Perhaps you could verify the information and share this to everyone.
The relevant part of the Reddit conversation is:
For Gold, complimentary breakfast is no longer offered at all. You will get 25,000 KRW (18 USD) credit per person per night. This doesn’t roll over to the next day if unused. It also has to be used all at once. Only eligible to be used at a cafe at lobby (called 10G) – you cannot use it for in-room dining or at the main restaurant (Zest). Of course Gold members can choose 1,000 points instead of the credit.
Relevant part of the Honors Gold member benefits:
Daily Food and Beverage Credit or Continental Breakfast (varies by brand and region)
As part of your MyWay benefits, you’ll receive a Daily Food & Beverage Credit at select brands in the U.S., and Motto by Hilton globally, and complimentary Continental Breakfast at select brands outside the U.S. (excluding Motto by Hilton). Either the Credit or Continental Breakfast will be given to you and up to one additional guest registered to the same room each night of your stay. Diamond and Gold members provided breakfast in the Executive Lounge will not receive the Daily F&B Credit.
Hilton downgraded Gold and Diamond members’ breakfast benefit during the pandemic, first temporarily, but then somehow it stuck, to only offer a credit that barely covers a muffin and perhaps a coffee at many hotels in the United States:
Reader Email: Hilton Hasn’t Increased The F&B Credit For Three Years?
Hilton’s Gold & Diamond Breakfast Credit Expands To Ontario (Canada)
Hilton Readies Program T&Cs For Removing Breakfast Benefit Globally
Hilton Extends Gold & Diamond F&B Credit Instead Of Breakfast Worldwide For Motto Brand
Hilton Extends Gold & Diamond F&B Credit In The US Through The End Of 2022
Hilton Email About Much Hated US F&B Credit Extension
Hilton Daily Food & Beverage Credit: When It Begins & Ends?
There have been some hotels in Canada that have tried to push this F&B credit, and at least one hotel in Ontario has a waiver from Hilton corporate for this practice:
Hilton’s Gold & Diamond Breakfast Credit Expands To Ontario (Canada)
So, we asked Hilton: Does Conrad Seoul’s interpretation of Gold member breakfast benefit comply with the brand standards?
Hotels are allowed to offer complimentary breakfast in the Executive Lounge, per the Honors benefits terms: Benefit Details and Disclaimers – Hilton Honors.
The hotel should still be providing complimentary breakfast for Gold members, if the member has selected that as his/her MyWay option.
We would encourage the member to check with the hotel for additional questions regarding the delivery of the benefit.
Can the café at Conrad Seoul’s lobby serve a continental breakfast for 25 KRW (roughly $18)?
The Diamond member’s complimentary breakfast in the lounge does comply with the benefit requirement, although many, if not most, hotels in Asia allow the member to choose which one they prefer.
The Conrad Seoul appears to call this 10G an “urban pantry,” which doesn’t sound like a proper breakfast venue.
What should guests do?
Diamond members who get breakfast in the lounge are covered by the Honors T&Cs. If they want a restaurant breakfast, they should book a breakfast-inclusive rate, and then they can choose whether to use the executive lounge or restaurant.
The situation with the Gold members is quite different, however.
It cannot be right if Conrad Seoul dumps them at “urban pantry” for “continental” breakfast, as it doesn’t sound like a breakfast venue or an outlet that could provide a breakfast.
Gold members who feel that they have been wronged should open a case with Hilton’s Guest Assistance and express their displeasure.
Use this email address after your stay and ask them to open a Guest Assistance file.
Other venues are TripAdvisor and Google Maps reviews with less-than-stellar ratings. Remember to include your displeasure about the breakfast situation.
Conclusion
Nobody wants this Gold and Diamond member breakfast credit nonsense to expand outside of the United States, and affected guests must forcefully complain through the Guest Assistance and online reviews.
Hilton’s long-term plan must be to roll out this credit to hotels globally, as it was initially only a “temporary” measure during the pandemic that somehow didn’t go away.
I prefer a lounge even when it doesn’t offer as many options as a restaurant breakfast, as my preference is a “calm” venue in the morning rather than a busy restaurant.
