Hilton HHonors - Matching Other Hotel Rates (Conference Rates)

I have a conference coming up in NY, and the number of attendees well outstripped the conference hotel, so more hotels were added with conference rates. I have a reservation at one of these now, for $235/nt. But then I was thinking that even though none of the Hilton properties were amongst the hotels with a negotiated conference rate, I would try to get a similar rate. No go. Which, on the one hand, makes sense; after all, it's just one person, so they don't get the benefits of large volume and publicity and all that they'd get for the official negotiated conference rate. But on the other hand: why *wouldn't* they match the rate if they had availability?? I mean, I was very clear that while I have mostly switched to Hilton brands now (since getting fast-tracked to Gold), it wasn't worth the extra $50-100/nt (depending on the property) JUST to stay at one, so it's not like by not matching the price they get me at their property at the higher rate. And they DO frequently come up on Hotwire/Priceline/etc, so clearly they see the value in filling their rooms, right?

So, two questions. The practical one is, is there any way anyone could think of that I might be able to get the lower rate at one of the Times Square properties with availability? And the just-for-curiosity's-sake one is, how does it benefit them to NOT offer it?

Thanks.

Okay, I know I'm not nearly the traveler that most of you are, but surely I can't be the only one who's ever tried to get a matching rate to maintain brand loyalty without losing money! I mean, if the hotels are willing to let Priceline sell a room for $150, for example, why wouldn't they be willing to sell it to me for $230, the rate I have at a similar hotel nearby, to keep me as a loyal customer??? Has *anyone* ever gotten that kind of rate-match, or am I just being ridiculously naive here?

I've tried it a couple times but never gotten it. I tried doing it through reservations though, and from what I've read elsewhere on this forum, you need to talk to a front desk manager or some such person at the hotel instead. Apparently the reservations people don't have the authority to reduce the rate, and x type of manager does.

They won't match the rate because they don't have to. The fact that there is a negotiated rate somewhere else, shouldn't necessarily affect the actions of the Hilton in question. If they see no change in normal booking patterns, they wouldn't be influenced by the fact that a conference is taking place in another hotel. In fact, if the other hotel or hotels are full, if I managed that Hilton, I wouldn't budge on the higher rate! I don't see how you will get a lower rate at this Hilton, other than waiting until the last minute and hoping they'll sell any remaining inventory at a discount. Of course, you could always try the on-line deep discounters and see if that works for you.

Did you check the rates at ALL Hilton Family Hotels in NYC and accross the river in NJ? Did you try for an AAA rate; or an AARP rate?

Forget the idea of getting a match. It just won't happen.

Good luck

I checked for all Hilton brands in the area - it's not worth it to me to stay farther away just to stay at a Hilton. I did also check AAA rates.

JHPark - thanks for the tip - I will try that.

Continental Fan - I guess my thinking on this was that they're *already* selling their inventory at a discount - it's come up on Priceline/Hotwire. Now, obviously, they're willing to do it more cheaply there specifically because it is opaque, to avoid the comparison I'm making here. But my view is, okay, right now I've got the conference rate at a nearby hotel. The conference is in two weeks, there's still another hotel with conference rates with plenty of room, plus a bunch of other hotels in the area, PLUS by now most attendees have made their plans. Besides, I don't think it's a large enough conference that all area hotels would plan around it, but I don't know how they do stuff like that. But anyway, I'm currently booked at a conference rate at one of the nearby non-Hiltons. I'm a Hilton Gold member now (through a challenge, so my tendency to book Hiltons is only in the past six months or so), and am making an effort to stay brand-loyal, but I'm not going to spend so much extra *just* to stay brand-loyal. What I mean is, I'm NOT going to book at their higher rates, just to stay at a Hilton, when I've already got the lower rate at a nearby comparable hotel. If they were going to sell out at their higher rate, then yes, I"d agree they have no reason to match the lower rate. But if they're not, if they're already offering inventory on the opaque sites for so much less, then really, why NOT just offer it to me at a rate similar to the conference one I've got elsewhere: doing so is already more than they're getting from their opaque sales, AND it'd keep me at a Hilton. It just makes sense to me. I don't necessarily *expect* them to do it, but it makes sense as a possibility. Anyway, I'll try JHPark's suggestion and I'lll either get the lower rate or keep my current booking elsewhere.

Thanks!

I guess my thinking on this was that they're *already* selling their inventory at a discount - it's come up on Priceline/Hotwire.

If they were going to sell out at their higher rate, then yes, I"d agree they have no reason to match the lower rate. But if they're not, if they're already offering inventory on the opaque sites for so much less, then really, why NOT just offer it to me at a rate similar to the conference one I've got elsewhere: doing so is already more than they're getting from their opaque sales, AND it'd keep me at a Hilton. It just makes sense to me.
Thanks!

I am puzzled as to how you know that the NEw York Hilton (s) are currently available on Priceline/Hotwire. Typically the good deals in NYC will only be found on weekends; and based upon my analysis, Hilton oly releases them to Priceline on the previous Monday or Tuesday.

If you have other information, I would be grateful if you would share it.

I am puzzled as to how you know that the NEw York Hilton (s) are currently available on Priceline/Hotwire. Typically the good deals in NYC will only be found on weekends; and based upon my analysis, Hilton oly releases them to Priceline on the previous Monday or Tuesday.

If you have other information, I would be grateful if you would share it.

Just from browsing through BFT and BB, it looked like there were a few wins on Hilton properties that overlapped with my dates. I have no insider info, if that's what you mean....