Hotels asking for your company's name
Aug 2, 2019, 10:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DEN, or so it says...
Programs: UA1K/RCC, Avis CHM, NWA Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 2,885
Hotels asking for your company's name
Over the past month or two, I've been asked twice who I work for, and once whether I am at my location for "business or pleasure". Once in the Midwest, and once on the West Coast. I am trying to figure out if this is a weird coincidence, or a new thing. FWIW, I was traveling on a corporate rate for business on both occasions.
Unless I have a business card to show, I typically don't want to discuss my employer's name when other people are nearby.
Unless I have a business card to show, I typically don't want to discuss my employer's name when other people are nearby.
Aug 2, 2019, 10:10 am
#2
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,040
If you are using a corporate rate, they have every right to ask to verify that you are eligible for such rate.
Aug 2, 2019, 10:19 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL GM, MR Platinum, National EC
Posts: 99
There was a stretch of time where every hotel asked for my company's name. I was not using a corporate rate AND my company's name is listed in my MR/Bonvoy profile. Ugh.
Aug 2, 2019, 10:19 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
I seriously doubt that's what's happening here, rate verification happens to me occasionally and they don't ask who I work for, they ask for proof that I work for XYZ Corp.
Aug 2, 2019, 10:24 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: Delta GM, Delta Amex Plat,
Posts: 148
I wouldn't read much into it. The sales team is probably asking the FD to get as many company names as possible so they can go prospect said companies that weren't/aren't on their radar...
Aug 2, 2019, 10:28 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DEN, or so it says...
Programs: UA1K/RCC, Avis CHM, NWA Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 2,885
Yesterday's conversation was as follows:
Front desk: "Are you here for business or pleasure?"
Me: "Business"
Front Desk: "Who do you work for?"
I respond after a brief hesitation and she types something in the computer.
First time staying at this location.
Front desk: "Are you here for business or pleasure?"
Me: "Business"
Front Desk: "Who do you work for?"
I respond after a brief hesitation and she types something in the computer.
First time staying at this location.
Aug 2, 2019, 10:43 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,718
Someone else reported this was happening at some limited service US hotels. If you don’t want to tell them, don’t. It does seem a rather brutish way of Marriott being able to negotiate better with corporates without any obvious benefit to you as a consumer.
Aug 2, 2019, 1:42 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
I'd much rather give them my company's name than my cell phone (which I have been asked to provide at Marriott and other hotel groups).
Aug 2, 2019, 3:04 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National EE, AS MVP Gold 75K, AC 75K
Posts: 1,000
It's for sales. If you stay enough time, they can give you a corporate discount rate. I had a VMware polo on one time when I checked into the Homewood Suites in Orlando and got a call from their hotel a week later asking about my stay and was wondering if we're interested in a corporate rate. (I don't work for VMware).
Aug 2, 2019, 5:51 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Spring, TX
Programs: UA Amex
Posts: 51
I am asked this almost every evening, Marriott or Hilton. “Business or pleasure?” “Business.” “Company?” “Self.” “Type of business?” “Monkey business.”
i don’t mind them asking. I assume this is how the property can identify companies to whom they could offer an eventual discount.
i don’t mind them asking. I assume this is how the property can identify companies to whom they could offer an eventual discount.
Aug 2, 2019, 10:58 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
Seems weird as when I was staying at the same hotel for a project, on a project/corporate rate nonetheless, they still asked the company I worked for, which I assumed was to correctly match to the project rate being used.
Aug 3, 2019, 1:05 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
As to benefits, if I were able help my company save money, I'd certainly do it. Not everything in the world has to directly benefit me. To be clear, we're talking about doing something that takes less than 30 seconds and requires zero effort.
Aug 3, 2019, 6:50 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
I am glad Marriott is tracking down the abuse of corporate rates! Perfectly legitimate questions when traveling on corp rates!