Originally Posted by
yyzgigi
Given the value of certificates being discussed here, I'm guessing that some may be doing this. Not sure if this is a popular view, but I would personally never consider this and have only been using for leisure travel.
Although I understand you are getting reimbursed for the value of the hotel and the company is technically not losing, you are hiding a 20% discount from the company and taking a markup on every stay. Not sure of your company culture, but if this lucrative scheme were found out, I have no doubt in my company you'd be fired. The fact that you want an invoice that conceals what you've actually done indicates that you probably shouldn't do it.
In my mind this is no different than submitting a fake or padded expense and has similar ethical implications; however, I also recognize that many people are willing to do this too. I'm sure it would send most travel accounting systems into a tailspin, but if you could pass on the savings to the company I'd of course have no issue.
i agree 100%. my brother has been using the hyatt check certificates and sends the hotel bills to clients with a letter attached stating exactly how much was paid. a couple reimburse him the amount he actually paid (if the hotel bill is $100 and he used two certificates, they will give him $80) but surprisingly he said that many companies still just reimburse him the full amount. im not sure if thats just easier for them or what, but thats what he told me. obviously expense accounts are a little different than client charges and i think if he sent the bill to clients without that letter attached there may be legal penalties, but i think thats probably a good way to do it. (he bills travel charges separately from other charges)-im not sure if others do it the same way