A new Marriott hotel is about to open a few miles from me. They advertised in the local newspaper that anyone cat get one night for just $1 during the first week (limited availability, of course)

I called them on the same day as when the ad appeared. I got my $1 room for a night. I asked if there was going to be taxes or other charges. The front desk lady said no, all I would need to pay was just the $1. Told my co-workers about it later that afternoon, but they didn't get the $1 deals.

My question is... how does offering $1/night during grand opening benefit the hotel? Or are they just trying to make the hotel look full during the frist few nights? then again, how does making the hotel full, at a loss, benefit them? Or is there some clever scheme that I can only learn by majoring in hotel management back in college?