FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Hotel Rate Review: Virtuoso vs. BAR vs. Advance Purchase
Old Oct 31, 2009 | 7:13 pm
  #10  
MarshKing
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ
Programs: Marriott LTT, Hilton Dia, Avis Pres, Hertz Pres, National EE, UA Silver
Posts: 874
Originally Posted by tfung
I was curious.. are there are agents that allow you to search virtuoso rates online? Or do you have to cal them up and ask for each property individually?
Unfortunately, there is not a website (at least that I know of) that allows people to search Virtuoso rates online.

Most Virtuoso properties have agreements with properties to either:
  • Charge the same as BAR
  • Charge a %-off of BAR
  • Charge a flat rate

That is, in large part, why I put together these reports. Now, if someone looks up rates on a hotel's website, they may then have a look at the .pdf to see what the Virtuoso discount (if any) is, and then do some estimating.

Unfortunately, contracts are negotiated annually, so there is no guarantee that a property offering a Virtuoso discount is 2009 will be offering the same discount in 2010.

FWIW, if you don't want to spend time calling Virtuoso agents for rates, I've found that most agents are happy to correspond via e-mail.

Also worth knowing about -- a previous thread talked about www.WhataHotel.com/. It's a site where you can view Signature (a Virtuoso competitor) rates.
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