FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Hotel rate with conference code higher than without
Old Oct 7, 2008 | 8:34 am
  #15  
Dudemius
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northern Virginia
Programs: UA 1K, HGP Diamond, HH Diamond, MR Platinum
Posts: 300
Originally Posted by cordelli
I've even seen the hotels prepaid guaranteed cheapest no refund rate to be higher then rates on the same page. But yes, I've seen conference rates, wedding rates, etc be higher at times.

I think when the rates were quoted that may not have been the case, but once those rates are set they never drop, should the hotel need to adjust rates down because of availability, regular rooms will fall, the quoted rates will be high.

I've also been to conferences where the conference holders got all pissy when you mention they didn't have the lowest rates, as they guaranteed the hotel a certain number of rooms at the higher rates, and guess what, nobody wants to pay higher rates for no reason anymore.
For city wides, or large hotel based conferences, a correctly negotiated hotel contract will stipulate that the hotel will offer no published rates over the meeting dates that are lower than the conference rates. When we find hotels undercutting our conference rates we call them on it immediately and they typically remove the lower rate within 24 hours. I can't recall a case where a hotel has ever countered with an offer to lower the conference rate instead.
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