Booking hotels via United MileagePlus
 

I recently used my UA miles to book a hotel via MileagePlus. After the booking I see in the confirmation e-mail that UA uses Hotels.com for the booking. I typically don't like booking hotels/flights via third party (and in this case, via a third, third party) but this is a relatively low-risk local stay so I wanted to try it out. When I click on any of the reservation links on the email (for example, change/cancel reservation) I am taken directly to the Hotels.com website, where I don't currently have a user account. My question is, if any issues were to arise with this reservation, do I speak with UA or to Hotels.com? And would the hotel recognize my booking as being from UA or Hotels.com?

Not UA, UA is not involved in the reservation other than as the source of payment.

Usually it's Expedia that the hotel sees. UA Hotels is just a front to Hotels.com which is just a front to Expedia. But it could also be any of the Expedia affiliates that show up as agent on the actual reservation.

In case of issues, just call the number on the confirmation. It's Expedia's support desk, but the number is specific to United Hotels reservations and the computer will instruct the agent to answer the call with "United Hotels".