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.

Nope. I just stated a fact.

I wasn't aware it was fraud to pay a hotel for a night's stay in a room that would otherwise go empty. Remember, you don't always get the corporate rate. I don't know what the cutoff is but I frequently find AAA and other discount rates when the corporate rate is not available.

Folks, the topic of whether it's fraud or not, have ethics or not, has been rehashed enough times over the years every time someone asks about a corporate code. Do we really need to go through it again?

The OP's question has been answered already - ie, probably won't get asked (at least in US) but if so then there's the potential for rack rate & up to the OP on the amount of risk he's willing to take.

Cheers.

Well said Sharon. One additional thing would be that while a property is almost never going to ask for an AAA card or proof of eligibility for a corporate rate, if you try and use a government/military rate, you probably will be asked for an ID. Those rates are usually very cheap, far better than any corporate or other discount rate.

Generally, most don't care and those that do are likely to go overboard. There have even been posts those the present a company credit card were disallowed credit as they weren't paying for the room. Bottom line, YMMV.

Personally, I use a former employer's SET and when asked at check-in, just say I retired from them and that's the end of the discussion. Fortunately our code was good for both business and personal use and not always the cheapest.

Another personal incident....

A couple years ago, I called into the Marriott reservation line to make some vacation and work reservations at the same time. When we got to a vacation reservation for an international beach location, the reservationist pointed out our company rate was very good, and she did not see any restriction that would prohibit its use. We booked the rate.

Long story short: the hotel regularly lets the large facility my company has nearby know who is staying at the hotel so the company can coordinate travel, meals, etc. The facility, which is a manufacturing arm of the very, very large company I work for, and has nothing to do with the division I'm in, was confused why I was there. I said it was okay if they did not want me to use the rate, but they still let me use the rate. When I got back home, the travel office called me and explained I should not use that rate again. Most of the time, we can use the negotiated rate for vacation, but I do send an email now asking before using our rate at international properties.

It's not. Deception for personal gain while doing so is. Walking into a bank that's open to the public and withdrawing money isn't a crime. At gunpoint,without an account, is.

Many corporate rates (particularly locally negotiated ones) have last room availability. Without context, you can't state with any certainty that this room would otherwise go vacant.

Considering that the OP is brand new to FT, yes we need to mention it.

I get that not everyone will agree with me regarding this topic. But, I worked in hotels and saw this on a weekly basis. We considered it fraud. We certainly never reported it to the police...but, that doesn't mean there weren't consequences, if caught.

Presumably the 'consequence' was rack rate.

I would imagine the police would laugh if called in to arrest someone for 'fraud' because they used a rate they weren't entitled to & which someone could explain away as a mistake. Methinks the police have a few more important things to attend to (duh). And it's not like hotels always call the police when there are thefts from guests rooms ;)

I'm not saying someone should use or not use a corporate rate. I responded (as others have) to the OP's original question.

Cheers.

No, they may not call the police, but they may call the employer and refuse to renew the negotiated rate when the contract comes up for review. Personally, I'd rather deal with the cops.

Are you under the impression that companies beg Marriott to take their business? If Marriott won't give them a deal a Hyatt or Hilton or IHG property will be glad to take away some Marriott business.

Calling the cops over a corporate rate is funny stuff. Did you by chance ever rat out your spouse to the cops when she removed a mattress tag? Ever try a citizens arrest on someone for jaywalking or spitting on a sidewalk?

There are some companies that are able to negotiate a very good deal and do not allow use for anything but business travel. Some of these relationships have been in place for many years and having them abused/misused is not in the cards as far as they are concerned. Choosing a chain has a lot of components, from a personal relationship between the person signing the contract to property saturation at destinations used by the client.

I do not expect any LEO involvement when it comes to corporate rates. But my statement about preferring LEO over my company stands. I can defend my case with LEOs, but nothing can repair the damage done if my company takes exception to my actions.

The "government rate" is almost always pegged to the local or national federal traveler per diem. In many/most major metropolitan areas, the weekend rates at many properties drop to the extent that they are significantly lower than the government rate, which doesn't drop at all. So, on the weekends, the government rate is generally no bargain and frequently higher than the property's normal weekend rate.

Exactly this. Many people assume that fraudulent use of corporate codes can only help the company by increasing volume. That's a false assumption.

For example: At one hotel I worked, one company had a corporate rate of roughly $70. Our rack rate was $269. They earned that discount because they only used it on weekends (when our rates were usually in the $79-89 range). If that corporate code had gotten out and was used during the week, it would have become an unnecessary annoyance for both the hotel and the company to fix.

Although not as drastic, we had other accounts that got discounts based on average stay patterns. Anyone who avoided the nights we almost always sold out (Tuesdays or Wednesdays) got a better discount. So, without knowledge of the contract, anyone stealing a corporate code can't assume they are actually helping out the company.