Originally Posted by
pricesquire
I'll reword that Q&A in the FAQ, but the point remains the same.
Yes, you're technically "booking it yourself" using that website, in the sense you're typing and clicking away
Correct. No different than using spg.com, expedia, etc.
The main point here is not the same: I can make the booking all on my own without having to contact a specific Virtuoso agent. That is a plus.
Until recently, American Express required that FHR rates be booked on the phone through one of their agents. Then they wised up and decided to make the rates available to everybody (holding a Plat or Cent card) on their website without having to work with an agent.
....but on the other end of that transaction is a Virtuoso agent taking a 10% commission (an agent you have no relationship with). All that is a a Virtuoso agency's website...
Right, and at the other end of SPG.com there's Starwood collecting a percent fee for the booking. And at the other end of Expedia/Orbitz/Hotwire, there's another corporation collecting another commission for the booking. It's called running a business, and in the year 2014 I really do not need to have a "relationship" with a specific travel agent to look up hotel rates.