Special rates for local residents
Aug 20, 2019, 6:27 am
#31
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,258
Almost every resort in Indonesia offers local rates for Indonesian nationals that are about 70% lower than what visitors pay.
Have you never seen the Florida residents only rates for Disneyworld?
This is very common world-wide.
Have you never seen the Florida residents only rates for Disneyworld?
This is very common world-wide.
Aug 20, 2019, 6:39 am
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
It seems Marriott should take a more subtle approach - ie) only show the special rate to people who are visiting the Marriott website from an ip address in the jurisdiction where the special rate is offered; b) only allowing people who visit the "local" marriott website... (I assume they have slightly different ones in some of the different countries, or at least different languages?; c) only advertising in local media/papers (not on the website for all to see).
I know in Egypt tourists pay way more for certain attractions, but the "locals" price is written in Arabic, and a foreigner would have no idea...
Aug 20, 2019, 7:50 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 1,753
...........
Also, if you want to see true discrimination in favor of locals, check out Vegas some time. Pretty much any exclusive club, long line, sold out show becomes open, cheaper once you show a Nevada ID. Bottle limits disappear. Resort fees disappear.
Aug 20, 2019, 8:10 am
#35
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TSV, Australia
Posts: 2,401
Not just Indonesian nationals but anybody with a termporary residents card (KITAS).
Aug 20, 2019, 8:22 am
#36
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Florida is the only one i've seen.
It seems Marriott should take a more subtle approach - ie) only show the special rate to people who are visiting the Marriott website from an ip address in the jurisdiction where the special rate is offered; b) only allowing people who visit the "local" marriott website... (I assume they have slightly different ones in some of the different countries, or at least different languages?; c) only advertising in local media/papers (not on the website for all to see).
I know in Egypt tourists pay way more for certain attractions, but the "locals" price is written in Arabic, and a foreigner would have no idea...
It seems Marriott should take a more subtle approach - ie) only show the special rate to people who are visiting the Marriott website from an ip address in the jurisdiction where the special rate is offered; b) only allowing people who visit the "local" marriott website... (I assume they have slightly different ones in some of the different countries, or at least different languages?; c) only advertising in local media/papers (not on the website for all to see).
I know in Egypt tourists pay way more for certain attractions, but the "locals" price is written in Arabic, and a foreigner would have no idea...
I've been in museums in Russia where Russian citizens pay about 10% of the admission rate that applies to everyone else, and it's clearly posted.
Aug 20, 2019, 8:46 am
#38
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
In English or in Russian?! Using Google maps I could not even figure out which direction to take the train in because of the different alphabet and the fact that train directions on the platform are only posted in cyrilic!!
Aug 20, 2019, 8:49 am
#39
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
1. Yes, it is discriminatory.
2. No, it is not unlawful discrimination (presuming that OP is talking about the US - he hasn't identified the property, perhaps it's the Area 51 Marriott??). An exception does apply if this is a property located in the EU. If the rate is available to any resident of the EU, it must be available to all residents of the EU. Thus, if a Dublin property offers a room to residents of Dublin at a special discount, a resident of the EU may claim that rate.
3. Yes, there is wiggle room. Purchase a forged ID with a local address and hope that the FD does not notice. This, of course, may not be a great savings if it all goes wrong.
4. Yes, it is a very common practice.
The risk of making a fraudulent reservation is that you are denied the rate and are offered a room at the rack rate, typically 6-7x the standard rates at which one can book. Or they figure out that it's a scam, cancel the reservation, and you arrive to find out that there aren't any rooms to be had.
All about your risk tolerance.
2. No, it is not unlawful discrimination (presuming that OP is talking about the US - he hasn't identified the property, perhaps it's the Area 51 Marriott??). An exception does apply if this is a property located in the EU. If the rate is available to any resident of the EU, it must be available to all residents of the EU. Thus, if a Dublin property offers a room to residents of Dublin at a special discount, a resident of the EU may claim that rate.
3. Yes, there is wiggle room. Purchase a forged ID with a local address and hope that the FD does not notice. This, of course, may not be a great savings if it all goes wrong.
4. Yes, it is a very common practice.
The risk of making a fraudulent reservation is that you are denied the rate and are offered a room at the rack rate, typically 6-7x the standard rates at which one can book. Or they figure out that it's a scam, cancel the reservation, and you arrive to find out that there aren't any rooms to be had.
All about your risk tolerance.
Aug 20, 2019, 8:51 am
#40
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,908
i have never seen discounts for russians at hotels or other privately run businesses (although they may exist)
Aug 20, 2019, 9:24 am
#41
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA Exp / Marriott Titanium / Hilton Gold / Hyatt Globalist / United Silver
Posts: 958
South America (particularly Argentina IIRC) has resident rates for airfare as well.
Buenos Aires - Iguazu flight was like $80 for locals and $300 for foreigners.
Buenos Aires - Iguazu flight was like $80 for locals and $300 for foreigners.
Aug 20, 2019, 9:43 am
#42
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Location: India
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in india there are many tourist sites where indian citizens pay upto 90% less than tourists....& its written in clear english....
Aug 20, 2019, 10:23 am
#44
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Plus, I'm sure the Titanium Elite line would cancel the reservation without penalty for a Titanium in a case like this, where the email confirmation doesn't say the ID is required.
Yes, the OP sees it in rate details, but what about for someone else that doesn't? Shouldn't Marriott/the property be held to the same standard, and be required to put this clearly in all reservation-related communications with OP? I think so.
Aug 20, 2019, 11:12 am
#45
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Location: Southern California, USA
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Posts: 8,764
I think it's well established now that local rates are not blatant discrimination and are quite common throughout the world.
Hopefully that settles that?
Hopefully that settles that?