Originally Posted by
buylowsellhigh
Thanks for the tip on the direct nego... I've definitely gotten better rates by contacting hotels directly on longer stays (1-2 weeks)... and knowing the fact that SPG/OTA's charge hefty commissions, booking "direct" is better for their revenue management... just didn't know to what extent hotels do this... I can tell you that at many SPG's in China you can call using the local language, often times you can get better price booking direct as a "local" than an int'l visitor... Its crazy, I've had many a times when I had local friends book for me at prices lower than seen online LOL.
Yes, locals will get a better deal I believe because they expect more of a chance of repeat business than dealing with someone elsewhere. This is even true in the US, I used the local offices to book stays and got much better service/upgrades. Most of the properties are franchises and will work hard to improve their numbers showing their worth to the chain and those numbers are not just revenue, but room bookings and the such.