Winging It

Do you recall when a free breakfast, continental or otherwise, became standard for many mid-priced and even lower-priced hotel chains? In Europe, some offering of food in the morning has been expected of hotels for decades. In this country, we first recall Hampton Inns started the trend in the mid-1990s, although we're sure those in the hotel business will correct us if we're wrong. What was first just cofee and doughnuts has, fortunately, morphed into decent spreads in most chains.

So who can be surprised by the results of the YPB&R/Yankelovich Partners 2007 National Travel Monitor, an annual study by a longtime collector of travel industry data. The survey found getting breakfast included in the room rate influences the choice of hotel for 49 percent of leisure travelers and 53 percent of business travelers. In a different question, almost two-thirds of the Road Warriors found a hotel that includes breakfast in the rate was very or extremely desirable. If you stay in four- or five-star hotels, chances are breakfast won't be included but corporate travel managers with lots of business under their control often are able to negotiate rates that do include it. Coffee anyone?