Originally Posted by
SkiAdcock
Also, if it's a large conference the rates are usually negotiated years in advance so if the market was more hotel-friendly (ie, high rates) when contract was signed & then by time of the conference the market was buyer-friendly, quite often you'll see a difference in the rates. But the hotel isn't going to let the conference out of the contract.
That's what I've seen. I've been attending meetings of my professional society since 1980 and the old model doesn't work anymore. All of us are computer-literate so anyone who's cost-conscious will check the hotel's Internet rate and also check the cost/availability of anything in the area. Plenty of consultants who pay out of their own pocket are in the nearest Courtyard or Hampton Inn. Essentially, the people who pay the convention rate are paying the cost of the meeting rooms and other hotel services for everyone at the meeting.
What really burned me up was the time I was supposed to attend a Board Meeting (about 15 people in total) but found a lower rate on the Internet. I booked the Internet rate and at checkout was charged the "special" meeting rate because they'd been given a list of participants in the meeting. I complained but they wouldn't change it. The difference was about $10/night for 2 nights but it was the principle that bothered me.