ByMonk--I agree with the concept of the allowance. What I do NOT agree with is the seriously declining standard of the hotels themselves! When we have poor hotels we have poor food choices.
I don't think it is too much to ask to make sure the hotels have food available 24 hours per day (and not just a 'midnight menu' during the night) or to have us located in the city so that avail ourselves of proper food if teh hotel cannot supply it.
But the fact is someone, somewhere is finding a way to 'save money' and we are paying for it. Chicago, Venice, Paris--just a few examples of substandard accom.
It is simple--put us in a proper, clean hotel with food available 24 hours.