Thanks writerguyfl and rxfleming!

I appreciate your guiding of my expectations (I hadn't expected to receive much/any of a preferential but I can now understand some of the reasoning, dynamics behind it!). Really helps - I've contacted the hotel in question and so just wanted to know what would be a 'good' response or a 'standard' response (there really is no 'bad' response apart from 'no rooms at the inn'!)

Simon.