Asking hotel for a discount when booking directly vs OTA?
Jun 19, 2016, 10:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NY
Posts: 733
Asking hotel for a discount when booking directly vs OTA?
While I've used OTAs for 17 yrs, for some reason I've never given much thought to what they charge the hotels.
And it seems the commissions start at 15% and go from there.
Recently, I've been approached by a hotel that I reserved on booking.com.
The manager offered me a bottle of champagne if I book directly.
2 nights, 2 rooms, $250 or so a night - I'm sure champagne vs commission is a pretty good deal for him.
OTOH, going through upromise.com and paying with a upromise card MIGHT return me 10% (although I'll believe it when I see it).
So I replied to him that since I am getting 10% back, if he wants me to book direct I'd want the same 10%.
I haven't heard from him yet.
Please share your experiences of deals you've made with hotels when booking direct vs OTAs. What is reasonable to ask for?
And it seems the commissions start at 15% and go from there.
Recently, I've been approached by a hotel that I reserved on booking.com.
The manager offered me a bottle of champagne if I book directly.
2 nights, 2 rooms, $250 or so a night - I'm sure champagne vs commission is a pretty good deal for him.
OTOH, going through upromise.com and paying with a upromise card MIGHT return me 10% (although I'll believe it when I see it).
So I replied to him that since I am getting 10% back, if he wants me to book direct I'd want the same 10%.
I haven't heard from him yet.
Please share your experiences of deals you've made with hotels when booking direct vs OTAs. What is reasonable to ask for?
Jun 20, 2016, 2:10 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,758
I have asked many times if a hotel is able to match the rate found with an OTA. Often the hotels are not even able to match the OTA rate and you will have to book with the OTA if you want the lowest rate.
Asking for a further discount is likely to fail IMO.
Asking for a further discount is likely to fail IMO.
Jun 20, 2016, 6:57 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
I've had two hotel managements tell me (both times on checkout) that, in the future, if I called them with the OTA price, they'd match it. Haven't had the chance on one, the other did match the price - I didn't ask for a price beat, since by booking direct I was eligible for frequent stay points.
Jun 20, 2016, 6:09 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NY
Posts: 733
