Misuse of Corporate\Discounted Rate Codes
#91
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
I see no reason to stay at a lesser hotel or to be financially penalized because I work for a small company that Marriott cares less about. I do not see any ethical problem in fully taking advantage of another companies negotiated corporate rate.
1. These negotiated rates may be a violation of the Clayton Anti Trust act as there is no proven competitive situation the hotel was meeting yet they give discounts away.
2. These negotiated rates are a way of asking the consumer to subsidize large corporations. My $200 room and their $100 average $150 for the hotel. The hotel needs to average $150 to operate. But the consumer ends up subsidizing chase bank, bank of america, or Microsoft or staying at a lessor hotel.
1. These negotiated rates may be a violation of the Clayton Anti Trust act as there is no proven competitive situation the hotel was meeting yet they give discounts away.
2. These negotiated rates are a way of asking the consumer to subsidize large corporations. My $200 room and their $100 average $150 for the hotel. The hotel needs to average $150 to operate. But the consumer ends up subsidizing chase bank, bank of america, or Microsoft or staying at a lessor hotel.
Also, you forgot to add number 3: "It's all Obama's fault."
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
You aren't breaking any laws, you aren't killing any puppies, but you know you are lying so why try to justify it? If you are ok lying, just do it. We'll all do what we are ethically inclined to do as well.
#93
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,714
I see no reason to stay at a lesser hotel or to be financially penalized because I work for a small company that Marriott cares less about. I do not see any ethical problem in fully taking advantage of another companies negotiated corporate rate.
1. These negotiated rates may be a violation of the Clayton Anti Trust act as there is no proven competitive situation the hotel was meeting yet they give discounts away.
2. These negotiated rates are a way of asking the consumer to subsidize large corporations. My $200 room and their $100 average $150 for the hotel. The hotel needs to average $150 to operate. But the consumer ends up subsidizing chase bank, bank of america, or Microsoft or staying at a lessor hotel.
1. These negotiated rates may be a violation of the Clayton Anti Trust act as there is no proven competitive situation the hotel was meeting yet they give discounts away.
2. These negotiated rates are a way of asking the consumer to subsidize large corporations. My $200 room and their $100 average $150 for the hotel. The hotel needs to average $150 to operate. But the consumer ends up subsidizing chase bank, bank of america, or Microsoft or staying at a lessor hotel.
#94
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Revived an almost 9yr old thread? Seriously? Lock this one.
#95
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
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Posts: 13,498
Eh, might as well go through this debate every decade or so! Maybe someone will say something new and different.
Bruce
Moderator
Bruce
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#96
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: LAX,SNA,SAN
Programs: UA GS, Marriott LP, Hertz Gold
Posts: 861
Maybe lock this one and open a recent new thread? Seriously a year or two revival is acceptable but a nine year old thread resurrected? Surely you could open a new one?
#97
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Why bother? Maybe reading the old arguments will spare people the need to make them all over again.
Bruce
Moderator
Bruce
Moderator
#98
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A City near you, at least for right now.
Programs: LT Platinum Marriott/Starwood; Exec Plat AA; LT Plat AA
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The only time he was questioned was at the full-serve Marriott at Overland Park, KS (Kansas City)....where he was working with Sprint. He was asked to produce a letter to that effect from Sprint. He provided that the next day. It went into the hotel's database, and he hasn't had a problem there since.
Personally, as a former consultant, I've used more rates than I can possibly even recall. in the USA and internationally. With the exception of the Sprint rate in KC, and one IBM rate in St Louis, I can say I've had nearly zero hotels (of any chain) ask me for verification.
And before I get flamed, because I was billing my hotel back to my customer, I was staying at their preferred hotel they specified at their rate... Though it was nice to get the Ritz in Atlanta for $99... Loved that
#99
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I see no reason to stay at a lesser hotel or to be financially penalized because I work for a small company that Marriott cares less about. I do not see any ethical problem in fully taking advantage of another companies negotiated corporate rate.
1. These negotiated rates may be a violation of the Clayton Anti Trust act as there is no proven competitive situation the hotel was meeting yet they give discounts away.
2. These negotiated rates are a way of asking the consumer to subsidize large corporations. My $200 room and their $100 average $150 for the hotel. The hotel needs to average $150 to operate. But the consumer ends up subsidizing chase bank, bank of america, or Microsoft or staying at a lessor hotel.
1. These negotiated rates may be a violation of the Clayton Anti Trust act as there is no proven competitive situation the hotel was meeting yet they give discounts away.
2. These negotiated rates are a way of asking the consumer to subsidize large corporations. My $200 room and their $100 average $150 for the hotel. The hotel needs to average $150 to operate. But the consumer ends up subsidizing chase bank, bank of america, or Microsoft or staying at a lessor hotel.
Justifying it? Not.
#101
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Join Date: Aug 2002
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Can't address the FTer who posted, but I do know IBM hires consultants. A friend of mine has consulted for IBM, ATT & other large firms (at very high consulting fees) & is told to use their rate at hotels when on bizness for them.
Cheers.
Cheers.
#102
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
My company has had me go in and do sessions for an entity within IBM. While I did not use their corporate rate, ours was good, I would have had to reservations about asking them if I could use their rate, which we do when a customer might have a good rate where we do not. While technically a consultant (that's my title) who is being brought in to work with IBM, the difference between what I do versus what is being discussed above is IBM is not hiring me, rather, they are bringing me in courtesy of my employer.
#103
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
But I would never just use some companies discount code. That's just wrong.
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
If a client has a discounted rate at a hotel near the site you are visiting, and they are paying for your stay, of course they are going to want you to use the discounted rate. This happens all the time. That's not misuse. The people who are misusing corp/special rates know who they are.
#105
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Join Date: Aug 2002
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If a client has a discounted rate at a hotel near the site you are visiting, and they are paying for your stay, of course they are going to want you to use the discounted rate. This happens all the time. That's not misuse. The people who are misusing corp/special rates know who they are.