Originally Posted by
mwdelta
I do this with some regularity. Here's how I see it - $50 or $100 is an appropriate incentive for the front desk employee to find me the best room that he possibly can. It's not encouraging "breaking the rules" - I really think it's unlikely that front desk staff would be willing to do anything that risks them getting fired over $50.
In most hotels the rule is that you get the room you have booked unless you have some status or there are some special circumstances.
So by bribing the front desk employee you certainly encourage breaking the rule and your experience proofs that employees are willing to risk their employment for $50 here and $100 there.