MilesBuzz! - Anyone Negotiate a Personal Room Rate including Stay Credit?

Many hotels aren't lowering their published room rates in line with economic conditions, and instead are dumping inventory on Priceline, and/or offering promotions that may be lucrative, but may not be what the traveler wants. For example, free nights that don't qualify for elite status.

Traditionally, hotel managers have been open to negotiating individual room rates, at least on the day of stay when their occupancy is low. What success have folks had with this approach recently, and have you been able to negotiate at least basic points and program stay credit? How much below the lowest AAA/corporate/government/weekend rate has your negotiated rate tended to be? Are you a frequent guest, or are you able to do this as a first-timer at a specific hotel? Which hotel chains? What time of day do you do this?

Yes , Westins, lowered lowest published rate by $40 per night. Just ask to speak with the revenue manager and ensure that the hotel is at no more than 60-70% capacity.

Yes , Westins, lowered lowest published rate by $40 per night. Just ask to speak with the revenue manager and ensure that the hotel is at no more than 60-70% capacity.

Is this by phone or in person, and how do you check capacity?

A few tips from my experience as a hotel supervisor (from my college years):

- Best to negotiate in person for a same-day room. The later in the day, the better. Even if the hotel is at 95%, if its 11pm the clerk is going to want to sell out and want to give you a good deal.
- On that note, if you CAN check in late, try and get there after 11pm. This is when the shift change is. Night managers (who for the most part have full authority) are trained to give price incentives to get heads in beds.
- Approach the desk when the clerk is not busy. If the clerk has two calls on hold and a line behind you, the clerk will likely just give you published rates just to keep the line moving.
- It is not necessary to start at a manager. Regular clerks are usually authorized to give discounts, especially after business hours.
- If you choose to try and negotiate make sure there are no other guests around you at the desk. If there are, you would likely get the same rate that the guest standing next to you got.
- If the phone rings while you are talking to the clerk and there is no one else available to take the call at the desk, tell them to go ahead and take the call. Your kindness is often reciprocated.
- Don't come in saying you are a diamond/platinum/whatever member. This will not get you a discount.
- Most importantly: Do not tap your credit card on the counter while you ask for a room (we called those pigeons). You will be lucky to be quoted rack rate.
- Your best bet is just to say that you are on business, you are just looking for somewhere to sleep, and ask for the best possible rate. Smart dress also helps.

As for getting points, you should get credit for haggled rates (at least from my experience with Hilton, Marriott, and Choice). You can always say after the rate is quoted "Sure, if I can get my points too."

Also, results may vary so please don't reply saying "That's untrue!" This is just what got you the best rate at the hotels I worked at on the nights I worked.

Is this by phone or in person, and how do you check capacity?

Parking lot is a good indicator.

A few tips from my experience as a hotel supervisor (from my college years):

Wow, thanks, very helpful tips.

I'm gotta push it and ask you a few more questions;:p

What kind of discount can we expect?
Would we get the elite benefits?
More specificly for Hilton, do we get the welcome bonuses?

Thanks again.

Wirelessly posted (FlyerTalk.com/wap is fun : BlackBerry9530/4.7.0.148 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Given the late hour, welcome amenities should not be expected.

Great responses, but should you, as a customer, suggest a rate? So in the Westin example, research online rates and ask for say $50 or $60 off the lowest affiliation rate, to end up with $40? Otherwise you might end up with a $10 discount.

Presumably, $40 off is when the lowest affiliation rate is close to $200? What if it's a weekend and they have a $99 published special? Who can offer a generalized percentage figure below the lowest published rate?

Also, presumably, it helps greatly to have a car and to leave your belongings in the car. Can calling from the airport, without a personal visit, also yield significant results?

Wow, thanks, very helpful tips.

I'm gotta push it and ask you a few more questions;:p

What kind of discount can we expect?
Would we get the elite benefits?
More specifically for Hilton, do we get the welcome bonuses?

Thanks again.

- It really depends on the property. For example, Marriott employees are not supposed to go below published rates as this conflicts with the website's 'Lowest Rate Guarantee'. Hilton wasn't as explicit, but negotiated rates were few and far between. At smaller properties like BW, Holiday Inn, and Choice Hotel's you run a much better chance of getting significant discounts. I worked at an upscale Choice property at one time and with a published rate of $199, I would go as low as $119. Sometimes even an $89 rate for a single state employee.
- Well you are entitled to elite benefits. Once again, don't say you are an elite member until after the rate has been agreed upon (if you do, it gives the clerk leverage knowing that you will likely stay at the published rate because you are loyal to the brand). You will definitely get the free breakfast (if that is one of your benefits), the points, though probably not an upgrade. By that time the upgrades are usually already given out.
- Do you mean the water and snacks that Gold and Diamonds get? In my experience, they usually keep bags behind the desk specifically for walk-ins with the amenities in it so that they can just hand it to you at check in.

Great responses, but should you, as a customer, suggest a rate? So in the Westin example, research online rates and ask for say $50 or $60 off the lowest affiliation rate, to end up with $40? Otherwise you might end up with a $10 discount.

Presumably, $40 off is when the lowest affiliation rate is close to $200? What if it's a weekend and they have a $99 published special? Who can offer a generalized percentage figure below the lowest published rate?

Also, presumably, it helps greatly to have a car and to leave your belongings in the car. Can calling from the airport, without a personal visit, also yield significant results?

Go on its website and click around for rates in its off season (usually November-February).Find the lowest rate and ask for that rate. It takes some clicking around, but this is the magic number where the hotel is still just barely making money. If you get a good deal once, every time you return to the property ask for the rate you got last time.

- Do you mean the water and snacks that Gold and Diamonds get? In my experience, they usually keep bags behind the desk specifically for walk-ins with the amenities in it so that they can just hand it to you at check in.

I meant more alone the lines of the choice of 500 (or whatever it is) points that Hilton give to top tier elites at check in.

And is the Hotel's priceline rate a good indicator?

Try seeing what the hotel rate is for State & Federal Government Employees...usually that is an indication of how low they can/will go. Another guide is to check www.betterbidding.com to see what rates are being paid via Hotline & Priceleine.

Would a hotel really go as low as the best Priceline figure revealed on Better Bidding? Remember, that rate can be less than half a published rate. Seems like a stretch. Perhaps bestbet can weigh in.

As for government rates, I qualify, but often find them too high these days - like $140 to $150 in the Bay Area, and $200 plus in Washington D.C.

...As for government rates, I qualify, but often find them too high these days - like $140 to $150 in the Bay Area, and $200 plus in Washington D.C.Another data point that says government rates (I qualify for them too) aren't always the lowest. Worth checking in case they are, though, since they're published. I'm occasionally, but not often, asked for and ID when I use them.

In my experience the lowest rates are often negotiated by large companies or other organizations near the hotel for their employees and other visitors. AFAIK there's no good way to find those in general, but if you know that Great Big Company's HQ is a block away, you might ask in advance what the "GBC rate" is. I've used these rates a few times: always legitimately, but nobody ever checked to make sure I was really visiting the place I said I was. I don't know how they could possibly prove I wasn't, unless part of the deal was that this rate has to be booked via certain channels.

If nothing else, knowing this rate gives you another data point for the discussion.