Dynamic Pricing Insanity
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2022
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Delta Diamond
Posts: 3
Dynamic Pricing Insanity
Hey folks, long time lurker first time poster.
Just wanted to get thoughts on state of affairs for dynamic pricing - it's becoming insane!!!
Case in point I was looking for a Labor Day weekend getaway in upstate NY. The Wick Hotel (an ok-ish conversion from an old paper mill that tries a bit too hard to be fancy and really isn't super, but a decent enough stay, at max a 3.5* hotel... no good bars / amenities / restaurants to speak of and not even on the main drag) wants to have $1,028 per night stay this weekend (or 60,000 points per night). That is MORE than staying at a W / Pantheon Iconic / Regency) bang in the middle of Rome !!! I really cannot believe anyone is crazy or stupid enough to pay these prices, especially given the alternate value - if there is such a thing left.
Has anyone seen any other examples of the ridiculous pricing variances since Marriott got rid of the the award charts?
Just wanted to get thoughts on state of affairs for dynamic pricing - it's becoming insane!!!
Case in point I was looking for a Labor Day weekend getaway in upstate NY. The Wick Hotel (an ok-ish conversion from an old paper mill that tries a bit too hard to be fancy and really isn't super, but a decent enough stay, at max a 3.5* hotel... no good bars / amenities / restaurants to speak of and not even on the main drag) wants to have $1,028 per night stay this weekend (or 60,000 points per night). That is MORE than staying at a W / Pantheon Iconic / Regency) bang in the middle of Rome !!! I really cannot believe anyone is crazy or stupid enough to pay these prices, especially given the alternate value - if there is such a thing left.
Has anyone seen any other examples of the ridiculous pricing variances since Marriott got rid of the the award charts?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
It's a major US holiday weekend. AAA is claiming 90% of travelers this weekend will take to the road, not the skies. So that means your "out of the city" locales will be busting at the seams. Upstate NY will be one of them given the generally nice weather in early September. Not sure why you are so surprised. Dynamic pricing is here to stay and the rate is reflective of supply & demand.
-RM
-RM
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
Hey folks, long time lurker first time poster.
Just wanted to get thoughts on state of affairs for dynamic pricing - it's becoming insane!!!
Case in point I was looking for a Labor Day weekend getaway in upstate NY. The Wick Hotel (an ok-ish conversion from an old paper mill that tries a bit too hard to be fancy and really isn't super, but a decent enough stay, at max a 3.5* hotel... no good bars / amenities / restaurants to speak of and not even on the main drag) wants to have $1,028 per night stay this weekend (or 60,000 points per night). That is MORE than staying at a W / Pantheon Iconic / Regency) bang in the middle of Rome !!! I really cannot believe anyone is crazy or stupid enough to pay these prices, especially given the alternate value - if there is such a thing left.
Has anyone seen any other examples of the ridiculous pricing variances since Marriott got rid of the the award charts?
Just wanted to get thoughts on state of affairs for dynamic pricing - it's becoming insane!!!
Case in point I was looking for a Labor Day weekend getaway in upstate NY. The Wick Hotel (an ok-ish conversion from an old paper mill that tries a bit too hard to be fancy and really isn't super, but a decent enough stay, at max a 3.5* hotel... no good bars / amenities / restaurants to speak of and not even on the main drag) wants to have $1,028 per night stay this weekend (or 60,000 points per night). That is MORE than staying at a W / Pantheon Iconic / Regency) bang in the middle of Rome !!! I really cannot believe anyone is crazy or stupid enough to pay these prices, especially given the alternate value - if there is such a thing left.
Has anyone seen any other examples of the ridiculous pricing variances since Marriott got rid of the the award charts?
#4
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,487
When we talk about "dynamic pricing" here, we're usually referring to award prices. Cash prices have been dynamic for as long as properties have used inventory management systems. In this case, the 60,000 points/night rate is quite reasonable compared to the cash rate and certainly isn't "dynamic" the way it could be (and perhaps will be next year when award pricing moves more in step with revenue rates!)
#5
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
Programs: DL 2 MM Unobtainum | UA 1.1MM Gold | MR Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 2,272
Hey folks, long time lurker first time poster.
Just wanted to get thoughts on state of affairs for dynamic pricing - it's becoming insane!!!
Case in point I was looking for a Labor Day weekend getaway in upstate NY. The Wick Hotel (an ok-ish conversion from an old paper mill that tries a bit too hard to be fancy and really isn't super, but a decent enough stay, at max a 3.5* hotel... no good bars / amenities / restaurants to speak of and not even on the main drag) wants to have $1,028 per night stay this weekend (or 60,000 points per night). That is MORE than staying at a W / Pantheon Iconic / Regency) bang in the middle of Rome !!! I really cannot believe anyone is crazy or stupid enough to pay these prices, especially given the alternate value - if there is such a thing left.
Has anyone seen any other examples of the ridiculous pricing variances since Marriott got rid of the the award charts?
Just wanted to get thoughts on state of affairs for dynamic pricing - it's becoming insane!!!
Case in point I was looking for a Labor Day weekend getaway in upstate NY. The Wick Hotel (an ok-ish conversion from an old paper mill that tries a bit too hard to be fancy and really isn't super, but a decent enough stay, at max a 3.5* hotel... no good bars / amenities / restaurants to speak of and not even on the main drag) wants to have $1,028 per night stay this weekend (or 60,000 points per night). That is MORE than staying at a W / Pantheon Iconic / Regency) bang in the middle of Rome !!! I really cannot believe anyone is crazy or stupid enough to pay these prices, especially given the alternate value - if there is such a thing left.
Has anyone seen any other examples of the ridiculous pricing variances since Marriott got rid of the the award charts?
I wouldn't say it's worth $1k or 60k points but these Hotels can charge whatever they want if there's demand for it.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Programs: MB Ambassador, WOH Globalist, HH Diamond (Aspire), AA Gold, UA (*G) Gold
Posts: 5,162
And, I'm staying at a Luxury Collection resort over Labor Day weekend for $375 all-in per night - I'll be hot in Scottsdale, but it goes to show how location is a strong factor in pricing.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Lynbrook, NY
Programs: Delta Ham Sandwich, IHG Spire, HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 83
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2022
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Delta Diamond
Posts: 3
It's ridiculous in two ways. 60k points for a hotel that is barely any (if at all) better than a Courtyard or a Residence Inn... and the daily $ rate is basically on part with an off-day of the St. Regis in NYC!?!
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Marriott Titanium -> United Silver
Posts: 937
It seems like the cash price is insane then, not the points rate (which actually looks like a good value relative to the cash price).
#11
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,945
#12
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,945
If you want some insanity, it looks like you can book for 60k points or $1800 on Saturday night or $362 with no points redemptions available on Sunday night.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,169
There has also been a heavy outflow of people + money into the Hudson Valley since the start of Covid (and has been been building up steadily for years before that too)...nothing surprising here.
#14
Formerly known as newbie elite
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: YUL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Platinum, AC50K
Posts: 2,927
Isn't "dynamic pricing" when referring to cash prices just basic, centuries old supply and demand? Never heard of it referred that way before
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
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