RA-wannabe

Since there are so many flyertalkers, would it be possible to negotiate some sort of preferential rate from major hotel chains?

The access to the flyertalk corporate rate code could have similar requirements to CC.

Just floating this idea around.

Craig6z

Most hotel chains expect a solid commitment of room nights, in order to rationalize a "corporate rate program" allowing cross the board discounting. While there would clearly be use of something like this, would it truly direct traffic to the properties that it wouldn't already get? Affinity discounts that chains offer AARP and AAA members are plentiful, and avoid discounting very profitable "last rooms availability".

An interesting metric that I've observed. If you compare a hiltonfamilymvp.com rate to the Hilton discount given General Electric employees on business (assuming the property is running "normal" 70% occupancy), the general price difference is only 7%.

rwoman

I think it's an interesting idea, and given Craig6z's comments, it sounds like hotel chains want some sort of quantifiable (right term?!) population (corporation, government, AARP, etc.) to provide the discount...would a frequent traveler forum be too broad?

GUWonder

Too broad? Not necessarily. Some other forums that have some kind of focus on travel have managed to land deals for their members with at least some small chains and/or some individual properties. When the people are considered paid members then they seem to become more attractive and/or the forum operators become more interested in getting deals; however, even that isn't necessary.

The bigger issue may be the resource allocation willingness to pursue such a thing and whether or not the thing would get enough use to be sustainable. Given the tiny proportion of FTers who are highly engaged with FT and the likelihood that such highly engaged persons may use other negotiated rates/discounts, a hypothetical FT "negotiated" "deal" might not even be worth that much to use; it may even be a relatively poor value for the hotel guest.

JDiver

My own guess is such a rate would not be any better than what's already available to many (AAA, Senior, AARP/CARP, and other rates FTers know about).

OTOH or those who do not have access to any code, it might be a useful 5-10% discount and a way of showing a chain how many (how few?) FTers actually take advantage of such a rate). (I use Hilton most, Starwood second with some Marriott, Carlson, etc. and I doubt I would have much use for an FT-specific 5-10% discounted rate - YMMV, of course.)

CMK10

I'll support this, but only if the code is DYKWIA

Gamecock

With suite upgrades of course!