I've done it many times. On your first or second stay ask to speak with the manager or reservations manager, explain how many room nights you expect to give them over the next year. A few key points to remember.......

1. It needs to be over 30 room nights per year, they normally are not interested in anything less (of course it depends on the size of the property).

2. Stress that your nights will be spread out throughout the year, meaning of course that you will of course be bringing them as much business in their slow times as their busy times.

3. Have an idea before you do all of this what the rock bottom rate that they offer at anytime during the year is from any legit sales channel except Priceline, so that you have a baseline number to go from.

4. You propose the rate that you want, make sure that your opening "bid" is 30% lower than what you expect to pay, i.e. if you want a $130 rate, ideally say that you want to pay $100 a night, they'll come back with$150, you say $115, and then you'll end up at $130 or so.

5. It does not hurt if you have some other rates from comparable hotels to throw out and tell them why you would prefer their hotel, i.e. you collect points with their chain, like that property, whatever.

6. If they do not come down as much as you want, see what else you can get throw in, free breakfast, free internet, parking, laundry items, etc. - ultimately with these items it mostly depends what they do in house and what is jobbed out to third party providers.