May
8
2012

Survey Results: Traveler Breakfast Preferences

We were already on a roll with our Breakfast Recipe Challenge, so we decided to survey travelers to learn about their breakfast preferences. Nearly 1,100 travelers completed our survey. Here are the takeaways that you may enjoy learning about!

  • There was a near tie for the favorite meal of the day. We found that 45% of travelers enjoy breakfast the most, while a close 44% selected dinner as their favorite. Only 11% say lunch is their favorite meal.
  • A whopping 72% of travelers prefer their breakfasts to be savory, while 28% prefer theirs sweet.
  • When it came to specifics, we found the All-American (bacon and eggs) breakfast was the unquestioned favorite, with 47% of the votes. Carb loaders (pancakes, waffles, bagels) and Health Fanatics (fruit, yogurt, granola) were near ties for next-favorite breakfast, with each representing approximately 24% of responses. Just Like A Kid (hot or cold cereals) and Fit Foodies (protein shakes or smoothies) represent only 2-3% of responses.
  • In regards to the size of the meal, 63% like a breakfast that will keep them satisfied, while 30% count on a breakfast large enough that they can skip lunch if necessary. We were happy to learn that only 7% usually skip breakfast!
  • On the weekends, 59% of travelers prefer eating brunch rather than a regular early breakfast.
  • Only 29% of travelers want their coffee black. The rest want milk or cream.
  • If offered a choice of juice or milk, 76% prefer juice.
  • When asked their favorite way to eat eggs, 33% said baked in an omelet or casserole, 30% said over easy or sunny side up, 25% go for scrambled, and a mere 12% opt for poached.
  • If eating toast, 55% of travelers say they want butter on it, while 45% said they want jam.
  • We asked if they would consider eating fish, such as lox, for breakfast, and 63% said no.

 Here is the infographic we submitted to the media:

Do any of these findings surprise you?

By Emily Starbuck Crone

Comments (9) -

Carolyn Touhey

Thanks for sharing!   I think the survey reinforces that most people do not want funky sauces or "gourmet" dishes either.  

That said, I do my best to change breakfast each day during a guest's stay at Two Eagles Lodge, so they may eat eggs three days out of five, but they are cooked differently each time (unless they ask for a repeat).  They seem to appreciate the variety.

I do find most like fruit and yogurt in addition to their main entree.  

Since we're on Vancouver Island, where there is soooo much to do, most people still want early breakfasts (8:30ish) so they have more time for exploring and activities.  In the winter, we go later; if I have only one guest/couple, I offer to cook whenever they want it.

Cecilia Williams

Hillard House is a small B & B,so we serve one entree per morning but with the entree comes fresh muffins,fruit plate or yogurt parfait,OJ, and coffee and tea.We vary the entree-sweet one day and savory the next for multiple night stays.The one breakfast favorite that almost everyone seems to like and considers a special breakfast is Eggs Benedict.

Barbara van Pelt

Hi from Vinifera, The Inn on Winery Row  www.viniferainn.ca

Gourmet Breakfasts were not in the list of statistics so can't be judged.  I think it depends on where you are and the type of B & B you are.  We are an "Inn" style 4 star B & B so more is expected.

We do serve a gourmet breakfast (4 small courses), fruit, biscuits with homemade jams made from local fruit, a savoury course and then a sweet course.

Our guests absolutely love it.  When asked, if they're staying for more than three nights, if they want something else and they almostly say they want our gourment breakfast.

They generally eat everything and write in our guest book how much they loved the breakfast.

You can get regular Bacon & Eggs anywhere and we like to serve our something more and memorable.

Good Luck to everyone for a great season!

Barb & Ron van Pelt - Vinifera, The Inn on Winery Row in Grimsby, Ontario on the Niagara Wine Route.

Gay Cooper

Lovely to see the results, which match up with a top restaurant overlooking the heads of Sydney Harbour. Worked there as a kitchen hand to get the best knowledge I could. Nicole Kidman had breakfast one morning, orange juice & toast with vegemite, her Manager had Eggs Benedict & Blueberry Pancakes with maple syrup. We honestly thought she was going to have one of the main dishes, but the Manager had both!!!!)
These two dishes we hot favourites, and so our Cooperage B&B in the Hunter Valley NSW (Wine Country) where weekends are our main income, have the above, but have now changed the pancakes to Ricotta Pancakes with Honeycomb butter, a Bill Granger recipe.

Carolyn

Thank you for providing these results. It does fit a pattern we experience at the B Street House in historic Virginia City, Nevada. We always offer baked goods and fresh fruit with an entree that changes daily for guests staying more than one night.

Jitka Nelson, Dove Nest Bed and Breakfast, Saint Joseph, Michigan

Yes I agree with Carolyn - it fit the pattern we experience here @ Dove Nest B&B in St.Joseph Michigan. Our guests love the 3 course breakfast which consists of all 3 favorable parts: fruit,
savory egg and meat dish in different presentation and sweet dish to top it up.

Emily @ BedandBreakfast.com

Thanks for chiming in, everyone! We love hearing what your guests enjoy. It certainly varies from inn to inn. I'm getting very hungry!

Agra Tour from Delhi

Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely helpful info specially the last part I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this certain information for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.

Rebecca , Crooked Oaks, Cottage Grove, WI

I just opened up my BnB a month ago and I am finding these postings to be very helpful. Thank you for sharing ~ I am learning so much! The cooking element of a bed and breakfast has been the most daunting part about it for me. I don't consider myself to be a gourmet cook, so I am so afraid that my guests will be disappointed.

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