CHICAGO—A new survey from the Hyatt Place brand found that the more people spend their time away from home, the more likely it is that they will eat the proverbial “most important meal of the day.”
The survey of 1,507 respondents, which was conducted by Toluna on behalf of the Hyatt Place brand, looked at a range of breakfast habits among those who travel at least six times or more per year (frequent travelers) versus those who travel five times per year or less (infrequent travelers). A majority (63 percent) of respondents who identify themselves as frequent travelers indicate they eat breakfast at least three or more days per week, while 45 percent of infrequent travelers indicate the same. Nearly half (49 percent) of frequent travelers indicate they eat breakfast more often while traveling, while 40 percent of infrequent travelers indicate the same.
For those who indicated why they eat breakfast more often while traveling, frequent travelers were most likely to credit “extra time” as a key factor for “why,” while infrequent travelers were most likely to credit “someone else making it for them” as their main reason “why.”
Eating breakfast tops the list of things frequent travelers would do with an extra 30 minutes in the morning, while infrequent travelers were more likely to choose sleep. A majority (53 percent) of all Americans—and nearly two-thirds of frequent travelers (63 percent)—have chosen a hotel because of its breakfast offering, according to the survey.
Nearly half (49 percent) of frequent travelers describe breakfast as being made up of their favorite foods, compared to 36 percent of infrequent travelers. Eggs and omelets are the go-to breakfast choice for Americans overall (26 percent), followed by breakfast sandwiches (15 percent), and then pancakes (8 percent).
The survey comes as Hyatt Place rolls out a new regional breakfast experience across its U.S. hotels. The food choices draw from food cultures in five regions across the country, including the Atlantic, South, Heartland, Southwest, and West Coast.
“Leisure and business travelers alike expect high quality and flexibility when it comes to their culinary experiences, and as this survey suggests, both components play a direct influence on their breakfast eating behavior on the road,” said Brian Contreras, corporate director of culinary operations, Americas, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House. “The new Hyatt Place regional breakfast offerings directly address guests’ needs and expectations by featuring fresh, regionally sourced ingredients that are sure to satisfy a myriad of food preferences.”
