Well I know a couple properties that are going to have some angry guests in September. AMS Marriott & AMS Renaissance.

During the IBC show, all hotels in AMS raise their rates (not just Marriott). But Marriott is 455E & Ren is 395E. The weekend following the show the weekend rate is 179E, so as you can see a bit of a difference! In years past, the lounge being open on the weekend helped make up for a bit of the pain on the rate being jacked so high. Both closed the lounge on the weekend one year (after a few years of it being open) & there were so many complaints that the next year they went back to being open.

And insult to injury - during the show, besides the price being really high and the lounge being closed, the rate rules show that the stay is prepaid, non-refundable, no changes immediately upon reservation. That's for all 3 properties btw - including the CY. Last year, CY had a DOA cancel, Marriott was prepaid 2 weeks before arrival date, & Ren had the draconian cancel rate. Now all 3 have gone to it.

I'm hoping to get my room at the Marriott through the convention housing bureau, where the rate is 269E. It's showing sold out, but I faxed a letter. If it doesn't open at that rate, I'll be staying at the Amsterdam Hilton which is 279 - and has the lounge open on the weekend (bringing this back on topic).

And if I do manage to get the Marriott, I'm going to contact the GM & gently suggest that Marriott policy is one thing, but that there's a line in there re: extraordinary circumstances/GM discretion, and with rates of 455E to the gen public, the property might want to consider opening it that one weekend only. There's policy & then there's common sense

BTW - if anyone will be in AMS in September, I highly recommend you avoid Sept 10th-16th.

Cheers.