Hampton Waffle Flavor Contest Debuts for National Waffle Day

Published on Aug 22, 2025, 1:59 pm CDT

5 min read

Hampton by Hilton is inviting breakfast lovers to help create its next limited-time waffle flavor, timed to National Waffle Day on August 24. From August 22 through September 5, fans can submit a short video explaining why they love The Hampton Waffle and pitch a new flavor for a chance to become the first Guest Waffle Boss. The winning flavor will roll out in 2026 at more than 2,450 Hampton by Hilton hotels across the United States and Canada. The winner also receives a five-night stay and 1 million Hilton Honors Points.

Key Points

Why it matters: Brand-driven UGC contest spotlights a beloved free breakfast amenity across a huge footprint.
Travel impact: Winner's flavor debuts in 2026 at more than 2,450 U.S. and Canada hotels, expanding breakfast variety.
What's next: Submissions are open August 22 through September 5, with judging on creativity, originality, and flavor appeal.
Prize includes a five-night Hampton stay and 1 million Hilton Honors Points for future trips and experiences.

Snapshot

Hampton by Hilton is turning waffle fandom into a headline promotion. The brand will crown one Guest Waffle Boss from entries submitted August 22 through September 5, then co-create a new limited-time flavor that joins Hampton's rotating lineup in 2026. The rollout covers more than 2,450 Hampton by Hilton hotels across the United States and Canada, reinforcing breakfast as a differentiator in the midscale segment. Eligibility requires Hilton Honors membership and U.S. residency, including D.C., with entrants aged 18 or older submitting an original video under 60 seconds. The prize package includes a five-night Hampton stay anywhere in the world and 1 million Hilton Honors Points redeemable for hotel nights and Hilton Honors Experiences.

Background

The waffle has become Hampton by Hilton's breakfast icon, popularized as a baked-by-guest Belgian waffle station. Over the last few years, the brand has rotated seasonal and limited-time flavors, including Birthday Cake, Lemon, and a summer S'mores option, to keep the ritual fresh for repeat travelers. The contest aligns with National Waffle Day on August 24, a made-for-media moment that reliably trends across food and hospitality. Hampton by Hilton's scale matters here, with more than 3,100 properties worldwide and a particularly dense presence in North America. A 2026 flavor debut gives the brand time for R&D, supply chain planning, and training, ensuring the winning concept can be executed consistently at thousands of waffle irons. For travelers, this means a familiar breakfast with a new twist appearing across road-trip corridors, airport hotels, and business hubs.

Latest Developments

How to enter, who is eligible, and what judges seek

Entries are open August 22 through September 5. Participants must be legal residents of the 50 U.S. states or D.C., at least 18 years old, and Hilton Honors members. To apply, entrants complete a form and upload an original video, under 60 seconds, explaining why they love The Hampton Waffle and describing their flavor idea. Submissions are judged by a panel that includes Hampton's U.S. Waffle Boss, Beverly Christmas, with criteria centered on creativity, originality, and flavor appeal. Official rules specify content guidelines, originality requirements, and timing. The winner earns the Guest Waffle Boss title, collaborates on development, and sees the flavor debut systemwide in 2026 at more than 2,450 U.S. and Canada hotels.

Prize details and the rollout timeline travelers should expect

Beyond co-creating the flavor, the prize includes a five-night stay redeemable at any Hampton by Hilton worldwide and 1 million Hilton Honors Points. Points can be used for future stays and Hilton Honors Experiences, which range from event access to curated activities, adding value for frequent travelers who stack points across brands. The winning flavor joins Hampton's rotating lineup in 2026, following testing and distribution planning to ensure consistent batter, toppings, and signage at scale. Expect the announcement to spark social content around tasting and reviews, especially from families, road-trippers, and youth sports teams who already rely on Hampton's free hot breakfast before early starts.

Analysis

This campaign marries Hampton by Hilton's signature breakfast ritual with user-generated creativity, a reliable recipe for engagement in midscale lodging. Requiring Hilton Honors membership focuses the funnel on loyalty growth, converting casual fans into identifiable members who can be marketed to later. The prize package is tuned to travelers, pairing a five-night stay with 1 million points that can turbocharge a family road trip or a couple's getaway. Because waffles are already core to Hampton's value proposition, the activation feels authentic, not bolted on. Rolling the flavor into 2026 gives ample time to translate a crowd-pleasing concept into an operationally sound batter at scale, which is vital for breakfast consistency across more than 2,450 participating hotels in the United States and Canada.

For competitors, breakfast remains a battleground where small touches influence booking decisions, particularly among leisure road-trippers and teams traveling for tournaments. A headline flavor launch can shift perception, even if the nightly rate is similar to peers. Expect copycat promotions that emphasize guest co-creation or seasonal twists. For travelers, the practical takeaway is timing. If you want to taste the winning waffle, plan 2026 stays at Hampton by Hilton, especially during peak road-trip seasons when free hot breakfast offsets dining costs. The contest also signals that more limited-time flavors are likely, keeping the breakfast lineup dynamic.

Final Thoughts

Hampton by Hilton is leaning into what guests already love, then inviting them to shape the next chapter. The Guest Waffle Boss contest blends loyalty, creativity, and broad distribution so the winning flavor will be easy to find when it debuts in 2026. If breakfast is a deciding factor in your hotel choice, watch for the announcement and plan future stays accordingly. For now, entries are open through September 5 for eligible Hilton Honors members. Whether you dream in citrus, chocolate, or spice, the Hampton waffle flavor contest is your chance to influence a breakfast classic.