Devaluation of the IHG Diamond breakfast benefit in North America

[Mattg]

I've noticed at a few hotels lately in North America that the breakfast voucher they give as the Diamond welcome amenity says "gratuity not included".

I don't know if IHG intended for this to be the case, but at a Holiday Inn I recently stayed at in Mexico, the server brought me a bill as I was leaving the breakfast area. The bill was for $0 but I still had to write my name, room number and sign it. There was also a field on the bill to enter a tip amount, and the server had stamped "service not included" onto the bill then stood over me and watched while I signed it.

I wasn't expecting this and found it quite jarring, to be honest. I don't feel like I should have to leave a tip on a "free" breakfast. Then it's not really free, is it?

This is the first time I've been pressured into tipping when using the Diamond breakfast benefit at an IHG hotel after hundreds of stays. On one other occasion at a Holiday Inn in South Africa, I was asked to sign a receipt that had a "tip" field but I just left that blank and it wasn't an issue.

Anyone else noticed this?

 

[kpc]

You are still expected to tip a few dollars for "free" breakfast in the US...it is a joke tbh!