The $99 price per night requires a Saturday night stay. It is no different than what we see with airlines, with both using their respective yield management systems.

I am not defending the pricing, just stating a fact. Also, I just encountered the same thing for an upcoming stay in PHX, although the difference was about 1/2 of what you are seeing.

A call to the Diamond line might be helpful, as they might find a non- public rate which you could use.