Luxury Hotels - Optimum time to book luxury hotels in advance

I am interested to see what people thought the optimum time to book luxury hotels in advance was. I have a short trip booked to Hong Kong and Tokyo in December. When looking on the sites of most of the main luxury brands in these locations I notice that their promotions do not run this far in advance. I have had similar issues before in the US and South Africa when I have booked flights 6 or 9 months before travel. Is there a standard timetable that the main brands put out their rates or promotions on or should I just book now on FHR or Virtuoso rates to get a decent deal.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I am interested to see what people thought the optimum time to book luxury hotels in advance was. I have a short trip booked to Hong Kong and Tokyo in December. When looking on the sites of most of the main luxury brands in these locations I notice that their promotions do not run this far in advance. I have had similar issues before in the US and South Africa when I have booked flights 6 or 9 months before travel. Is there a standard timetable that the main brands put out their rates or promotions on or should I just book now on FHR or Virtuoso rates to get a decent deal.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Personally, my travel--particularly leisure travel on the higher-end--tends to come relatively last minute. This means that even if there are deals and promotions available through various agents, I'm often unable to book them as I have a 24-48 hour window (sometimes less) to arrange accommodation. In this case, I typically place a call to a hotel manager, explain that I'd like to come in, ask somewhat bluntly about their occupancy, and get a sense of what's available. I've rarely had a problem securing a meaningful upgrade as well as a courtesy inclusion such as a bottle of champagne and other small but kind complimentary gestures. It never hurts to ask, particularly when a hotel is not completely booked up. I've also found that, if I've booked a hotel previously via Amex, they are happy to extend those benefits (and others) if I then continue to book directly through a manager.

Otherwise, I'll book through American Express Platinum directly, whose promotions tend to open up (very generally) no more than three to four months in advance. This echoes what you've found.


In your case, it wouldn't hurt to call the hotel, explain that you'd like to firm up your bookings very far in advance, and let them know either a promotional consideration you think is appropriate or a particular upgrade you'd enjoy, and see if they'll work with you.

It's always best to book as soon as you know your dates. This puts a ceiling on your rate, even if they subsequently go up.

Hotels are not like airlines. If rates go down, or if promotions are introduced, it is very simple to revise the rate downward on your reservation - or take advantage of the promotion.

Remember, a lot of hotels now are using a floating point rate meaning that what you see can almost change from day to day. Lock in today and monitor

Are they? Any links for this (not doubting, just curious to read more).

DavidO makes an excellent point ... no harm in booking immediately and then monitoring for better deals (as long as one doesn't book a "Pay in Advance" rate).

Are they? Any links for this (not doubting, just curious to read more).

I do it all the time.

Are they? Any links for this (not doubting, just curious to read more).


From a luxury point of view, Four Seasons just moved to this model. Still working out the bugs. You can read CWT's take from 2008 HERE (http://www.carlsonwagonlit.com/export/sites/cwt/en/global/tmi/cwt_vision_pdf_en/405_dynamic-hotel-pricing_en.pdf)

Thanks ABG. I've stayed at 5 different FS properties so far this year (on 3 continents), and have not noticed this. Do you have any more info with respect to them and their implementation?

DavidO, thanks -- I didn't phrase it well, but I was after the info ABG provided concerning dynamic rates. Any info you have on this would be appreciated, especially with respect to 4S.

FS >

they removed ratecards..

i feel like some suites no longer show up in online reservations, but i dont have any data on that particular item

DavidO has been able to leverage last minute bookings for us at some truly great hotels. If they still have the space a week out, they are more inclined to upgrade, etc.

I am planning a trip for next Jan. and found that in one or two cases emailing the hotel to ask about promotions resulted in being offered promotions that hadn't actually been extended out that far yet.

There are many different ways to think about this.

On the one hand, if there is a specific hotel you want...book now. The last thing anyone needs is to have their "destination hotel" turn up full when they've already got plane tickets.

On the other hand, DavidO has been able to leverage last minute bookings for us at some truly great hotels. If they still have the space a week out, they are more inclined to upgrade, etc.

Thanks ABG. I've stayed at 5 different FS properties so far this year (on 3 continents), and have not noticed this. Do you have any more info with respect to them and their implementation?


Only my own anecdotal evidence....

I was after the info ABG provided concerning dynamic rates. Any info you have on this would be appreciated, especially with respect to 4S.

FS has gone to a dynamic pricing model, at least at some properties. As occupancy rises, rates at those properties will rise. Also, as hotels near full occupancy, Experience More promotions may disappear and be no longer available.

This is why early booking is a win-win, especially if there's no deposit involved.

When occupancy is strong, rates will rise and promotions will disappear - but you'll already have booked a lower rate with perhaps a free night or hotel credit.

When occupancy falls below expectations, rates can go down and promotions may appear … and I've always been able to get rates lowered and promotions added.

I'd say book now if you know your dates and monitor, especially if it doesn't require a deposit.

If it does require a deposit, I'd still book first, monitor the upcoming promotions and mind the cancellation dates

I usually book a couple of days or at most a week in advance. Depends on the property but normally if there is space that late in the game the hotels are pretty happy to provide decent rates or an upgrade. If not I just go someplace else... or go at another time.

Rates are rising at the moment, so it is definitely worth booking a fully flex rate ASAP. We were in Cape Town at the O&O in January, and rates had gone up 20% between when we booked (about 7 months out) and when we went. I always expected to rebook, but even any promo rates that came along nearer the time were more expensive than what we already held!

Thanks everybody for the responses.

As people have suggested I will make some reservations now for all my trips where I have dates and then monitor the pricing going forward. It never occured to me that you were "allowed" to ask for a reduction in your rate if prices fell or promotions came out. I always presumed you would have to cancel, risk losing your rooms and rebook as with flights.

It never occured to me that you were "allowed" to ask for a reduction in your rate if prices fell or promotions came out. I always presumed you would have to cancel, risk losing your rooms and rebook as with flights.

Even if you cannot, for whatever reason, get the rate reduced by asking, you could always make a second booking and THEN cancel the first -- of course this only works if there are still rooms available in the category you want.

So best bet probably is to call first.

I am interested to see what people thought the optimum time to book luxury hotels in advance was. I have a short trip booked to Hong Kong and Tokyo in December. When looking on the sites of most of the main luxury brands in these locations I notice that their promotions do not run this far in advance. I have had similar issues before in the US and South Africa when I have booked flights 6 or 9 months before travel. Is there a standard timetable that the main brands put out their rates or promotions on or should I just book now on FHR or Virtuoso rates to get a decent deal.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Depending on the specific dates and where you want to stay, I would make a tentative (not prepaid/not nonrefundable) reservation now.

In Hong Kong, renovations at the Peninsula are putting roughly half of their rooms out of service through the end of the year IIRC, although you should be able to get a renovated room in the Tower. Space seems to be tight in Hong Kong, for example at the W, although IME the RC has had good availability on dates I checked.

Tokyo has some holiday periods in December and space can be tight as many Japanese people book rooms in central Tokyo during this period.