I tend to travel slowly, staying in a given city for at least a month at a time. As a result, I typically stay in serviced apartments at favorable rates. For the sake of convenience and consistency (and the prospect of earning hotel points/status), I would like to begin using hotels instead.

Does anyone have experience getting discounted monthly rates from luxury hotels?

There are several threads on FlyerTalk regarding full-time hotel life which suggest negotiating rates with the hotel (manager? owner? corporation?) directly, but they don't give an idea of what percentage to aim for. How much more expensive should a luxury hotel to be in comparison to a luxury serviced apartment? Or are they the same, where staying in a hotel means exchanging the spaciousness of an apartment for the convenience and service of a hotel?

I have also heard of Virtuoso agents being helpful in booking hotels. Is negotiating a monthly rate something they would be able to take care of?

Are there any established brands (Four Seasons, Peninsula, etc) that are particularly amenable to long-term stays, or that have standard practices regarding long-term rates?

Thank you in advance for any experience, anecdotes, or advice you may be willing to share.