<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by julize:
Wow--this is a great thread. Thanks so much for all the information! I have just two questions.
1) I am a gold elite w/ HHonors, but also a federal gov't employee, which means I can't be reimbursed for any stay that exceeds the gov't rate. Would the fact that I'm paying the low gov't price generally cancel out any chance of an upgrade as an elite member?
2) I often have difficulty getting hotels to give me the rate I need. This is particularly frustrating when I'm attending a conference at a hotel and end up having to stay at the Days Inn down the road. Is there usually some sort of ironclad policy on when to make this rate available (i.e. never when hotel is more than 75% full, etc.) or do the reservations/front desk folks have some discretion here? Aside from avoiding very full nights, is there anything I can do to improve my chances? </font>
Hi julize-
1) I wouldn't say it will totally cancel you out for upgrades, but I guarantee you will be the last gold elite to be upgraded - if you are at all - because gov. rates are sooooooooo low. I would be very surprised if you were upgraded for a stay of more than one or maybe two nights.
2) Doesn't surprise me at all. Hotels (just like airlines) will make any excuse to refuse a govt. rate. These rates are MUCH lower than any other rates in the hotel and very few people ever request them. The hotel has very little to gain both financially and PR-wise by accomodating you. In the hotel I worked for the govt. rate was available maybe 15% of the year, at the MOST. The rate will be made available or unavailable by the reservations dept. based on the occupancy forecast for that night. The front desk MAY give you a gov. rate on a last minute basis, if you call the day of and they have extra rooms, but thats it. If it's not offered then there is nothing else you can do. Sorry.