Negotiating a hotel rate - repeated stays at same hotel
 

For at least the next six months and perhaps beyond, I will need to stay 2 nights per week, each week, and sometimes three, in the same city. I own my own business, so I am interested in negotiating a reduced rate for the hotel. Does anyone on this board have experience in negotiating with a hotel on a rate below its standard discounted rates based on the assumption that the traveler will stay a minimum number of nights per month for an extended period of time? While airlines and major companies do this all of the time, they are not negotiating for just one guest.

An apartment is out of the question right now, any apartment that I would want in this particular city would run more than what I believe that I can negotiate for a room at hotel.

I would narrow it down to 2-3 hotels, and then approach the manager of each, and see what they can do for you. Some hotels are eager to bring in a guaranteed guest, others are often full, and don't seem to care.

I've done it many times. On your first or second stay ask to speak with the manager or reservations manager, explain how many room nights you expect to give them over the next year. A few key points to remember.......

1. It needs to be over 30 room nights per year, they normally are not interested in anything less (of course it depends on the size of the property).

2. Stress that your nights will be spread out throughout the year, meaning of course that you will of course be bringing them as much business in their slow times as their busy times.

3. Have an idea before you do all of this what the rock bottom rate that they offer at anytime during the year is from any legit sales channel except Priceline, so that you have a baseline number to go from.

4. You propose the rate that you want, make sure that your opening "bid" is 30% lower than what you expect to pay, i.e. if you want a $130 rate, ideally say that you want to pay $100 a night, they'll come back with$150, you say $115, and then you'll end up at $130 or so.

5. It does not hurt if you have some other rates from comparable hotels to throw out and tell them why you would prefer their hotel, i.e. you collect points with their chain, like that property, whatever.

6. If they do not come down as much as you want, see what else you can get throw in, free breakfast, free internet, parking, laundry items, etc. - ultimately with these items it mostly depends what they do in house and what is jobbed out to third party providers.

I have a couple of clients who did this.........2-3 days a week, every week in the same city.....and they did exactly what hfly suggested........and were accomodated.

Also, in some places you stop paying hotel tax after a period of 90 days or so. (At that point they figure you're a resident, not a visitor.) A friend of mine worked out an arrangement whereby when he wasn't there, they kept him on the books for $1 a day or some such so the clock wouldn't start again when he returned. With hotel taxes over 10 percent in most places ("what the heck, let's screw people who don't vote here!") and as much as 20 percent in some, this can be as good as a lower rate if the numbers work for you.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to try them out in the next two weeks.

Just keep in mind that stays that exceed 30 days (in some hotel points program) are ineligble for points/stay accurals. Although it may not matter if the cost of saving more than make up for the lost value of the points though.