Originally Posted by
scubaccr
Corporate GOLD rates are the common standard, not really anything special or out of the ordinary for you company.
If Google you get GOOGLE GOLD, Barclays BARCLAYS GOLD, FMC FORD MOTOR COMPANY GOLD etc etc , and fyi GOLD is typically 15% discount on the Flex Rate, and typically is terms "cancelable until 4pm day of arrival OR 6pm day before etc)
If booking at short nortice when ADR is sold out or discontinued then Company 15% rate is then best you'll get, otherwise ADR is cheaper but non-cancelable.
Some company have extra perks at some hotels eg text includes 'Free Internet' 'Breakfast Included' too , maybe negotiated locally with a hotel. I think the hotel you went to just added you to standard corporate GOLD 15% discount list of companies at IHG worldwide level.
I also negotiated complimentary drink (glass wine/pint beer/soft drink) per night and free parking for the hotel in question. Also, the rate is fixed at that particular hotel, and comes out much less than the regular "gold" rate.
So it seems like there's the rate code (hotel specific) with the fixed rate, and the Gold attached to the Corporate ID (12% off BAR in my testing on multiple hotels), cancellable until 4pm day of check-in.
Know if it's OK to use this rate for personal bookings?