I live in hotels. I negotiate with the sales manager. I am in an affluent area, but hotels are all over. A couple of them tried to tell me "we don't offer discounts; this is [bougie rich city]." Then a nicer place across the street did. Now those same hotels have online rates that are even lower. I show the hotel the written rate and ask for better. Make sure what you try to negotiate is in the hotel's comp, or if the proximity is negotiable, do a search online for how far you will go. Search rates at nearby Staybridge, Homewood, Hyatt House, etc, and bring that to the Marriott table. It's a business deal. Treat it as one. I have funded almost two months abroad with points from this year in a hotel.