This is what I found out from a travel agent:

1. GDS (travel computer network used by travel agents/online booking travel sites) / published rates:

e.g. "Best Flexible Rate", "Advance Purchase rate", "AAA/CAA rate"

- the rate is always the same (hence "published rates") regardless of whether booked online, over the phone or via a real TA
- these bookings always qualify for points and status benefits regardless of how they are booked


2. consortia rates:

e.g. "Virtuoso rates", AMEX FHR rates, Travel Leaders Group rates

- these rates are based on published rates (and often are identical to them), but include additional benefits
such as daily free breakfast, upgrades, food and beverage / spa / resort credit


- these bookings always qualify for points and status benefits

(Has anyone ever found out that one did not get the benefits or points with one's stay at these rates?).

3. corporate and conference rates:

- rates and benefits are negotiated between the parties involved and may or may not qualify for points / status benefits (Corporate rates often do while conference rates often do not, but it obviously depends on the agreement; qualifying rates are more expensive)


4. discounted TA rates:

- often large TAs or groups of TA (I guess one would call them "consortia" such as virtuoso, nexion etc) have access to lower, unpublished rates (or like Priceline, may purchase xxxx rooms at a deep discount and resell them to clients)
- they often earn no points or status benefits (exact policy varies by chain)

It seems from what I have learned, if you book non-qualifying rates (ie #3 or #4), you can go to the individual hotel and negotiate with that hotel's manager to see he/she will allow the points or benefits to accrue to you - but I do not know what is the success rate of this type of negotiation.