Whether with croissants, scrambled eggs or pancakes, thousands of business travellers worldwide begin their day at a hotel-owned breakfast buffet.
Despite this trend, only one third of hotels include breakfast in their basic room rates, according to a recent study by HRS Group of more than 250,000 hotels worldwide.
The remaining two thirds of hotels charge guests a premium for their morning meal, with the price reaching upwards of A$47 in Switzerland's five star hotels.
Of the surveyed cities, Singapore was the most expensive overall with an average hotel breakfast price of A$25.85, with Switzerland and Belgium close in tow – coming in at A$24.60 and A$23.07, respectively.
Closer to home saw prices varying greatly across Asia – while Japan (A$21.66) and Hong Kong (A$21.30) weren’t far behind Singapore, China had a much more reasonable average of A$13.54, with South Korea a trifle more expensive at A$15.01.
If your business is picking up the breakfast tab for a conference, look towards India – hotel breakfasts can be had for A$6.35 in Mumbai, while the Czech Republic and Germany were the next cheapest with average respective breakfast costs of A$12.69 and A$12.52.
At the upper end of the scale, five star hotels in Belgium averaged A$42.20, while those in Germany begin to rival those of Switzerland, with average costs of A$42.52.
Interestingly, one in seven business travellers opt for an ‘early bird breakfast service’ where available, with breakfast offered prior to the regular service hours at an extra charge.
The study did not include results for Australian hotels.
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Nov 2011
Total posts 243
Singapore is good foood haven. Recommend go out and eat at a fraction of the cost. :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Exactly! Hotel breakfast, $30; breakfast outside, $6. You can get a set breakfast of eggs and toast (or even noodles) plus coffee - why anyone would want five times more to have a generally very average hotel 'Western breakfast' is frankly beyond me.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 461
In Hong Kong from memeory you can get a bowl of Noodle Soup with Dim Sims in them for $17 HKD at a roadside shop but that was over twelve years ago I am not sure what the price would be today but converted to Australian Dollars it would still be cheaper than eating at the hotel.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
It's now over HK$ 20. Expect to pay around HK$30 for a breakfast set in a cha chaan teng or chain cafe (e.g. Cafe de Coral), but it's still very good value compared to hotels - especially by Australian standards.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Sep 2013
Total posts 462
Chris,
I thought most so called Sydney 5 Star hotels superseed the prices listed...were they included.
26 Aug 2012
Total posts 44
Yes, a look at Sydney prices is also worth discussion - right up there with the most expensive in my view.
The hotels in Singapore are a total rip off. Room rates are good but drinks, meals, breakfast, mini-bar etc - wow .... open up a line of credit against your home.
I was there last week - very ordinary breakfast at the Swissotel Stamford = $40. Tiger beer from the mini-bar $15 (its ok because I went to the supermarket and replaced it with a $3.50 one), a beer at the bar = $18++ compared to $7 (no ++) at the East Coast Parkway seafood markets.
You really have to be conscious of the charges in hotels. They are not justifiable and can leave you with a big check out bill.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
LOL
This is the thing about Singapore. Eat in the hotel - easily triple digits. Eat in a food centre - easily under a tenner. It's hilarious, and that's why I avoid eating or drinking anything in hotels in Singapore.
Even pseudo-fancy chains like Toast Box (or even better, Ya Kun or Killiney) offer fantastic value for money, never mind local cooked-food markets (e.g. in Chinatown).
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 461
When I went in 1998 Not far from where the Holiday Inn exists in Downtown Singapore used to exist both a Deli France and a McDonalds.You could easily get away on Breakfast at either for under $20.The other option that existed was Lau Pa Sat for local food to start the day on which worked out cheaper.Sometimes if it's included in the package take advantage of it otherwise look away from the hotel for something decent.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Local food is always cheaper. In the fifteen years that have passed the options at all levels have expanded massively. Western-style deli/cafe-type places are also popular and good value by international standards.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 439
Yes Australian results would be interesting. Sydney and Perth prices would no doubt notch up the average by some margin. You're doing pretty well for an all you can eat brekky <$25 at a hotel in Perth...
Etihad
23 Jan 2013
Total posts 175
When booking an upcoming stay at several top European hotels I saw the 'no breakfast' price and the 'breakfast included price'. There was, in one case, over 70 GBP difference (approx. $140 AUD)!
Naturally I opted for the no breakfast choice as I can get a fantastic breakfast outside for far, far less.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on The world's most expensive hotel breakfast? Try Singapore...