Making reservation using corporate code
 

I am wondering how vigilant are desk clerks when checking in these days. I am planning on staying few days at hotel where I can use corporate code from my now previous employer. I still have business cards but not sure if I have ID. Thanks.

The business card will probably be enough, but be prepared to pay rack rate if it isn't. It really depends on the property wrt asking for id at all. Some will; some won't. Not all corps issue formal id vs. just biz cards. I worked for one F50 that did have corp id, but it was more to get into the building than take on the road.

Cheers.

I always try different codes for every on-line booking to see which is cheapest. I've never been asked to show AAA, or any company ID for the codes I use.

I agree that in general for Corp codes, I'm not normally asked to show my id. But it has happened in the past. And the use of special "membership" type codes like AAA or Travel Industry, etc., those I have tended to be asked to show proof of eligibility more often than not.

So just be prepared that, as SkiAdcock mentioned above, you "might" be asked to show proof and if you can't provide it, be prepared to pay the hotel's night rack rate instead.

Buy a lottery ticket.

If you are asked for proof or somebody takes it on themselves to check you out as a 1 in 100 audit, you will be pay the rack rate which can be 4-5 times the typical rate quoted for a room.

So, it's all about risk tolerance.

My experience are business card will suffice, no problem

I've never been asked to verify my company via ID. Additionally, my company doesn't even issue ID's with the company name or logo on it.

Only a handful of times I've been asked "Who are you traveling with". I'm guessing that is there way of checking.

Using a corporate code that you are clearly not eligible is fraud.

I've posted this before, it happened years ago...

While checking in I was asked for proof that I worked for my company. I pointed out the credit card in the desk clerk's hand was a corporate Amex, showing the company name and logo. Nope. That wasn't good enough. The clerk explained she needed to see a biz card, so I reached in my bag, found one and showed it to her. She had no comprehension that anyone could get a cardboard card printed off a home computer, but the company is only going to issue credit cards to actual employees.

:D :D

This.....and if the OP's former employer finds out, this could affect "references" when applying for a new job.

It might be understandable if the room had been booked before the OP was told of the termination, assuming that the company's policy permits use of their corporate code for personal travel. However, to deliberately book a hotel using a rate code of a former employer would certainly be considered fraud, unless of course the company permits use of the corporate code for personal travel by retirees.

2 years ago I was checking in to the Ritz Montreal using my company code and was asked for company ID as I was booked under a corp code. I produced my business card,passport and credit card and was told that wasn't a company id and I need to prove I worked for the company, when I informed the clerk that my company doesn't issue ID's and hasn't done so for 5 years she told me I might have to pay rack rate as a result. I directed her to search the internet for my name and company name which produced a landing page with my title and picture on the company website & she printed to use as proof I was an employee. This was the first and only time I have every been asked to prove I worked for the company when checking in.
Two weeks ago I checked in to the same hotel using the same discount and no-one challenged me.

And that's an example of a hotel/FDC going so overboard as to not make sense. Geesh.

I worked for 3 F500 companies. Only 1 had an actual employee id & that was only to swipe to get into the building. All 3 had company biz cards issued to employees. Two had employees use personal credit cards/get reimbursed & one had a corporate credit card. Actually all 3 had employees use personal cards & then one went to corporate credit card - the only problem w/ the latter was the company (F50) didn't pay the bill on time. The only time I was declined a credit card upon check-in was using the corporate Amex & had to switch to my personal card. LOL...

Cheers.

Great, someone called the cops.