Originally Posted by moondog

anacapamalibu: i'd like to take this opportunity to expand on my negotiating advice.

the shangri-la is one of my favorite hotels in beijing (i used to hang out there almost daily when i was studying at CNU during the mid 90s because it was, by far, the nicest establishment of any kind on the west side of town), but nobody likes to stay there because it is in the stix (not an issue for you). for this reason, you have an enormous amount of negotiating leverage and can potentially swing a microsoft-style rate on your own.

however, you will need to attempt to establish two things:

-that you have a stellar offer from a property that they look up to (Marco Polo would qualify)
-that you are a frequent visitor to beijing and typically spend bundles of money on auxiliary services when you stay in hotels (my boss actually fits this profile; we nickle and dime the hilton to death over the room rate, then he spends $500+ per day wining and dining clients)

as a bonus:
-explain to them something you really like about their hotel. if you're strapped for ideas, you might suggest that the shangri-la has lovely landscaping/gardens/goldfish, you enjoy the japanese restaurant, the lobby atmosphere is pleasent in the early evening, you don't feel like you're in beijing when you're staying there, etc

i would not emphasize the fact that the location is good for you. while noone that didn't need to be on the west side would stay there, you should let them know that the marco polo is more convenient; otherwise, you'll give up a lot of your negotiating advantage.

hope that helps