Originally Posted by
Dr Jabadski
FWIW, I’ve found that the Gov rate is often significantly lower when all other rates for a given hotel are relatively high and that the Gov rate is often significantly higher when all other rates for a given hotel are relatively low.
With rare exceptions, the government rate for a standard room is equal to the
GSA per diem rate for that area. This year, it's $77 except where otherwise specified (which is a couple of hundred specific locations including every major metro area).
So, in most cases, government rate has everything to do with general location -- and
nothing to do with the season or the quality of the hotel. So for a Hampton Inn in mid-December (low season), it's entirely possible that every public rate including BAR will be cheaper than the government rate.
On the other hand, I've gotten some outrageous deals on high-end hotels (W=A, Intercontinental, Conrad, Park Hyatt, Four Seasons) in urban areas at high-demand times.
And, yes, I
am eligible.
