Originally Posted by
eishv
Hi All - bit of a noob here.
I have to attend a conference in Washington in April, and the Conference has some group rates setup at Marriott hotels. Thing is, you have to book the room through the conference website in order to get the discounted prices. I've called the hotels to confirm this - they will not give match the price for me.
So if I do that, I won't get any points...which is pretty substantial considering its $250/night x 7 nights. Has anyone in a similar situation figured somethign out?
There's not that much to figure out. I've attended hundreds of conferences/conventions over the years & on the times I have to book through the organization's website or 800# to get the negotiated rate, I still get points. I just provide my MR # when making the reservation. If for some reason they can't take it, then I just call the property & have it added.
NOT ONCE in hundreds of conferences/conventions have I not gotten nights/points credit if booked through a conference/convention website. Booking through a conference website is not the same as booking through Priceline etc.
There are literally thousands of conventions/conferences booked at Marriott (and other major chain) properties per year. Marriott is not going to blow off elites worldwide by saying that because you book through a conference that has negotiated a rate with Marriott that you won't get points.
The reason some conferences/conventions have you book/require you to book through them is they've guaranteed "x" amount of rooms and they want to make sure they get the credit for them, as often it means they get discounted or free meeting room rentals or they get some free nights for the organizers or free Presidential Suite or free points for the meeting planner.
What I do do when booking a Marriott room for a conference/convention is check to see what the negotiated rate is by the conference & then see what is available on the Marriott website (whether that be no promo, AAA, etc) & book whichever is the least expensive. Sometimes the rates are better on the Marriott website; sometimes the conference rate is better.
Some conferences might offer certain extras if booked through them (gift in room) or say you'll only get certain things if booked through them (such as free shuttle bus ride to the convention center). Whether the extra items are important to you (you generically) only you can decide.
Cheers.