Originally Posted by
dormy
Hotels have to sign a declaration as part of the RFP process each year that states no upgraded room types will be offered to government travellers, as part of the bid. IE properties can only offer one rate in a standard room type, upgrades at a cost are not permitted. Hotels can upgrade for free, but not charge the guest; this policy is usually ignored, but the agreement has been signed as part of the bid. Properties can be thrown out of the program if caught charging for upgraded rooms. This rarely happens but it is possible. same for points, hotels cannot offer govt travellers points, they always do but again it breaks policy.
This is only true for hotels selling rooms through Fedrooms. It is not true for the huge number of hotels that offer government rates independent of that particular GSA operated website (and for which there is no "bid").
The simple reality is that most hotels that offer government rate rooms do not sell upgraded rooms at government rates because they don't have to and don't need to. Government rates are usually lower than prevailing rates so offering upgraded rooms for less doesn't make sense.
Originally Posted by
MD/DC Flyer
Which RFP are you referring to? AFAIK only the airline city-pair is administered by RFP bidding process. But I'll love to be educated.
I'm pretty sure they're referring to the GSA run Fedrooms system.
Originally Posted by
RatherBeOnATrain
My guess is that it was for rooms to be listed under a rate code used by a certain dot com website (with rooms in its name) run by GSA.
(I won't be more specific since I presume travel auditors are reading FT.)
A 10 second google search on "GSA hotel site" returns the Fedrooms site as the first link. I wouldn't worry about travel auditors if it's that easy...
Originally Posted by
MD/DC Flyer
I know what you referring to, but there is difference between the rates through that site and a "government" rate (they are two different rates, one only available through that system, the other on all systems).
True...