GOV rate question
 

Hello I am a teacher from Holland and my wife is working for the government city.
Can we use the GOV code in the USA?

In the US, the government rate applies to Federal employees (not teachers or professors that are State employees) on official government business (not leisure trips). I think the policy changed in mid-2021. However, enforcement is inconsistent and its possible that the front desk employee won't know what to do with a non-English international identification card. Of course, the consequence for being ineligible for the gov rate is reversion to the current rate, which could be quite expensive. So... officially, probably not, but YMMV.

This is overbroad. You really have to look at T&Cs for individual hotels. Some are limited to federal employees on official business, others include contractors, state employees, etc. That said, I haven’t seen any that were broad enough to include employees of foreign governments.

Marriott government rates nearly always explicitly include employees of the Government of Canada.

As well as Native tribes. But they do not include foreign governments.

OP, most hotels are not likely to check for the gov't ID card but if they do they can technically deny you on a foreign gov't ID. Will they? Really depends on the hotel and the agent working. I think there's been so much churn and turnover in front desk agents lately that most have no clue the gov't rate is for US/Canada/Native tribes only.

-RM

Most front desk agents don't want to be confrontational; saying that, the only time I have been asked for my ID is when it is a manager working the desk. Now when it comes to a foreign ID who knows what they would do.

Get the email of reservation for that hotel and ask them!


I have never been asked when I book PAG rates in Renaissance Beijing Capital, I think because the PAG rate for that hotel is only 12% cheaper than non-flexible. But the shang rila Guangzhou and Ritz Carlton Guangzhou used to do email confirmation given the P&G rate is significantly cheaper than market rate and both of those hotel have quite high occupancy all year around, with the former having a strict policy of only allowing one room per one P&G employee during check-in, very frustrating when your childrens are young adults.

I've seen foreign hotels offer government rates, so they're presumably not for the exclusive use of USA federal employees. Also, many USA hotels have more than one government rate, with different target groups and different rules. I've also started seeing some explicit "government leisure" rates that are higher than other government rates but don't say that they're for official business only or require government travel orders.

I’ve noticed for IHG and Hilton, the terms and conditions state that govt rates are for official business only and they may ask for official papers as prof of the business travel

Where do you find the Ts and Cs re. the government rates at specific hotels?

The Sheraton in Samoa states:Does this mean that I only need to show proof of my age to make a booking with this rate?

As a teacher in a government school, I'm assuming that I cannot use this rate. However, the Ts and Cs are unclear and make it seem like I could...

No, you cannot. Clearly the quote is referring to several different rates, including corporate and age-related discounts, that have nothing to do with a government rate.

Aha, that helps translate things better. Yes, that makes more sense. Thanks!