Here's how the hotel industry works fro the "inside". You plan a trip, and look on-line for a hotel. You pick from the choices offered, usually via Priceline, Expedia, etc.. These on-line travel agents (OTA's), have so conditioned the public to look for the cheapest opportunity that to compete, hotels have to find ways to economize. Because of this, we look for the least expensive way to provide the expected "free" breakfast to our guests. Many limited service hotels do not have kitchens, so are limited to what can be warmed in microwaves, hence the unhealthy scrambled eggs and sausages and such.
Here's the reality: you get what you pay for. Most hotels through the recession lost money. You cannot expect gourmet breakfasts with organic ingredients for a room rate of $70/nt (and that's for a family of 4).
What would be a great help to hotels would be for guests to book directly through the brand or hotel website, or even call direct. Hotels pay these OTA's up to 30% commission. So that $70 rate you get nets the hotel only $49. Tough to provide breakfast for 4, and still make money.
Ah, you say. Hotels dont have to participate in OTA programs. Well, if you dont, your hotel stays empty, because William Shatner and Priceline have us conditioned to "go lower". Your competitor will be full, and your rooms sit empty.
So that is why your breakfasts, largely mandated by the hotel brand, will be of the most rudimentary quality required to meet brand standards.
Dont blame the hotels...we're only responding to market conditions in order to feed our families. Only I dont let my kids eat from our breakfast offerings very often! I do love the Otis Spunkmeyers, though!

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