Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydney!

[basso]

McDonalds don't charge more for their Cafe Coffees versus the machine rubbish, and most buffets have cook to order eggs, I think diners have a right to be unhappy if the coffee style they want is not part of what is often already an expensive breakfast. The only time I have had an expresso at the Sydney Hilton for breakfast was December last year, it took 25 minutes, I would not have paid $5 for it.

If it is taking 25 minutes, then they have an issue that they need to deal with. A $5 charge might be aimed at reducing demand for espresso and pushing it back to the standard coffee. Cook to order eggs are no doubt costed into the buffet, and is probably a sizeable component of the cost...Doesn't matter what Mcdonalds do.

 

[zqsn5678]

Hilton Taupo also surcharge on hot breakfast as well. (cold selections are complimentary to elites)

from memory coffee are not free either!

 

[serfty]

Hilton Taupo also surcharge on hot breakfast as well. (cold selections are complimentary to elites)

from memory coffee are not free either!

The Diamond/Gold breakfast benefit is documented as "Continental" - any property that offers beyond that is under no obligation to do so - such should be taken as a bonus when/if it occurs.

As for this topic, I have modified the thread title to have some indication of the reality.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

I haven't had a whole lot of buffet breakfasts in Australia, but outside of Hilton I'm not aware of inclusive espresso coffee. I'd imagine the chains competing with Hilton would have it inclusive, e.g. Rydges (possibly), Sofitel, Sheraton, Hyatt, Marriott...

I've dined at a Stamford Plaza before, and certainly espresso coffee was not included in the cost of the buffet. The thing that does my head in is that since there is a presumption that you will never be asked, "are you sure?" when you make a decision, you sometimes forget or feel a bit embarrassed to ask whether the cost of something you request will or will not be included in the bill. Same thing with a few Holiday Inns that I've stayed at, but that was some time ago, so things may have changed (of course, their idea of 'espresso coffee' may just be you help yourself to the robot barista, which is thankfully inclusive).

Last Hilton I stayed at in Australia was the Parmelia Perth, and certainly no extra charge for espresso coffee there, and I had more than one latte.

I'm surprised at this move. I probably wouldn't flinch so much if it were enhanced to only the first espresso coffee (or pot of speciality tea) inclusive and any subsequent ones chargeable.

I wonder if the same applies if you ask for espresso coffee in the EL, but I assume in the EL there is no prepared espresso coffee - you're simply expected to use the robot barista...

 

[DeKa]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

There was no charge for espresso coffee last week at Hilton Parmelia Perth for two of us in the same room (me being Gold).

 

[Catweazle]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

Is there a table near a wall-socket anywhere? I could always just bring the kettle from the room downstairs, plug it in and fire it up...

 

[anat0l]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

Is there a table near a wall-socket anywhere? I could always just bring the kettle from the room downstairs, plug it in and fire it up...

I don't think I saw any particularly near any tables. The restaurant is pretty compact as it is already, plus the staff are likely to pull you up for causing a nuisance (a steaming kettle) as well as introducing a trip hazard.

All seriousness aside, I know what you're getting at.

I can't believe that they would charge for tea. I suppose you can get "bottomless" English Breakfast in the large jugs (just like a large jug of brewed coffee), but it doesn't make much sense to charge for pots of other basic teas (e.g. Earl Grey, green, camomile, peppermint...). If there are much more specialised teas (e.g. combination, brew leaf teas), then maybe OK - charge for it.

To think you can make your own super duper fruit juice but they charge you for espresso coffees and pots of tea. The mind boggles.

 

[Austman]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

Here's the Glass breakfast menu: http://www.hiltonsydney.com.au/assets/files/GB_Menu_Sep13.pdf

Coffee and tea are included in the buffet cost but not 'selected' coffees and teas.

I hate to say it but the same is done by 1,000s of hotels around the world.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

Here's the Glass breakfast menu: http://www.hiltonsydney.com.au/assets/files/GB_Menu_Sep13.pdf

Coffee and tea are included in the buffet cost but not 'selected' coffees and teas.

I hate to say it but the same is done by 1,000s of hotels around the world.

I can believe 1,000s... but surely there are quite a few which don't do it.

For example, there are many countries where espresso coffee is not very common. Of course I wouldn't be surprised if it were chargeable there. Even in the USA, you'd probably only expect the typical "cup of joe" - a weak concoction - to be available complimentary. Espresso will likely attract extra charges (but then again, maybe not); I'd hope they wouldn't charge any more if you asked them to make the brew stronger!

Australia has a very much established coffee culture (and a generous emerging tea culture, too). It seems counterintuitive to the local culture in a luxury hotel to charge for espresso coffee.

You make a good point, though. At minimum, I guess we're all bitter (no pun intended) that this is now happening.

 

[basso]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

I hate to say it but the same is done by 1,000s of hotels around the world.

I agree, and it's truly doing my head in that the well travelled membership around here don't seem to have struck it before.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

I agree, and it's truly doing my head in that the well travelled membership around here don't seem to have struck it before.

Struck it many times before, but also been pleasantly surprised by some properties that don't charge for it. It usually depends on the customs and service culture of a place you've been to...

 

[markis10]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

I agree, and it's truly doing my head in that the well travelled membership around here don't seem to have struck it before.

Its the fact that it is now charged where as before it was included in the cost of the breakfast. At the end of the day a property can do what it wants and so can the customers when deciding where to stay next time.

 

[cmon0005]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

I stayed at Sheraton HK with included breakfast. I ordered a Capp and no extra charge.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

I agree, and it's truly doing my head in that the well travelled membership around here don't seem to have struck it before.

I certainly wouldn't describe myself as "well travelled" but I have travelled OS quite a number of times. I've never been charged for an espresso coffee. I'm one of the ones that's a bit amazed that a high end restaurant (I do call $38 for a breakfast - high end) to NOT include an espresso! Maybe I'm half spoilt and half lucky !

 

[Austman]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

I've seen it in plenty of 'higher end' hotel breakfast restaurants. It seems to also depend on how the restaurant does their tea and coffee service. Often (but not always) where they have a roaming tea/coffee service, they charge extra for anything else (like espresso).

It doesn't tend to happen in club lounges. So sometimes, if I've had time, I've breakfasted in the main restaurant and then popped into the lounge for a 'real' coffee.

But it does look a backward step if Hilton Sydney used to include it.

 

[cmon0005]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

It seems to also depend on how the restaurant does their tea and coffee service. Often (but not always) where they have a roaming tea/coffee service, they charge extra for anything else (like espresso).

When I stayed at Sheraton HK recently, they came around to each table when you're seated and quickly poured a coffee or tea from a pot. After I tasted the brew and realised that I wanted a proper coffee so asked them for a Cappuccino (I was expecting to have to pay for it considering how quick they were to offer the basic brew) but as I had breakfast included with my room Cappuccino was free.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

How do we all define espresso? I usually order a simple flat white, not from the walk around pot, but made nicely by a barister. Is that an espresso?

 

[boomy]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

When I stayed at Sheraton HK recently, they came around to each table when you're seated and quickly poured a coffee or tea from a pot. After I tasted the brew and realised that I wanted a proper coffee so asked them for a Cappuccino (I was expecting to have to pay for it considering how quick they were to offer the basic brew) but as I had breakfast included with my room Cappuccino was free.

Sheraton and Westin Sydney don't charge extra for a proper coffee as part of breakfast (the black thing that is poured from a pot in some hotels is not coffee IMHO).

 

[markis10]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

How do we all define espresso? I usually order a simple flat white, not from the walk around pot, but made nicely by a barister. Is that an espresso?

Anything thats got a shot of expresso in I presume.

 

[DC3]

Re: Gold/Diamond [+anyone else][breakfast] Enhancement-coffee [now $5]-in Hilton Sydn

How do we all define espresso? I usually order a simple flat white, not from the walk around pot, but made nicely by a barister. Is that an espresso?

Espresso or not. Barista = $5 it seems. :evil: