Originally Posted by
arlflyer
No, the government rate has always been for travelers on official orders; click into the rate box and read the description. There are different versions of the verbiage, but they all make reference to needing to be on government business. I've used these rates for hundreds of night of legitimate government work travel and have only been asked for travel orders a handful of times, but that doesn't mean that the rules aren't the rules. Just because you've historically ignored them doesn't mean they weren't there.
Sorry, but this is incorrect. Hilton properties can offer Government rates that do not require that the guest be on official business. For those rates travel orders are not required (you only need to show a Gov ID). I've used Gov rates dozens of times for leisure travel with no issues and no rules ignored. It's entirely possible that the OP has been using Gov rates that do not require orders. As you point out, it's essential to read the rate rules.
Originally Posted by
Smaug
In the months before the lockdown, I noticed an uptick in the number of hotels asking for ID for the government rate while in the past I hardly ever got asked. I think too many ineligible people were booking the rate hoping they could get away with it. Just be prepared to show a government ID. I have never had any front desk ask for "orders' when an ID would suffice.
I'm asked for ID regularly when using Gov rates for both official and leisure travel. It's a rare exception when I'm not asked. That said, I have not once been asked to show official travel orders in hundreds of stays in the past 20 years (between 20 and 30 years ago I was asked to show orders occasionally). I haven't actually carried physical (paper) travel orders in over 20 years, so I'm not sure what I would do if I were to be asked.