Awhile back, I booked a room at Skyloft in Vegas through Centurion and got a straight-up good deal... about 20% off the cheapest rate, as I recall plus some Centurion extras.

My most recent experience left me slack-jawed, however. Planning a trip to Buenos Aires, I looked at the Park Hyatt, which looked like a pretty nice place to stay. Their website and most other on-line booking services showed rates starting at $400/night. Seeing that they were a part of the Centurion Hotel Program, I decided to go to the inconvenience of talking to one of their reps instead of booking online. When I reached the CTS rep and gave her the dates of my stay, she quoted me a minimum rate of $650 and started up from there. When I told her that I was presently looking at the hotel's own website and that they were showing rooms for $400, she paused for a couple of seconds, then said "oh yes, way down in the bottom of my screen, I do see they have a few other rooms at $400, but they aren't in the Centurion room inventory and don't come with the amenities."

...!?! The only Centurion "amenities" are a space available room upgrade upon checkin, daily continental breakfast for two, late checkout, and a $100 spa services credit.

Gee.... let's see, something tells me that I could probably take the $750 (3 days @ $250/day plus substantial taxes & fees)... say another 20% (or $900 total and buy my own $100 spa service, pay 1/2 day late check out-fee if really unlucky (another $200), 3 days of continental breakfast (say $75 total) and I'm still left with $525 to give the front desk guy to find me a good room.

What a rip-off.