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Advice from a Hotel General Manager
APV1
Posts: 70 Forumite
If you want to save money booking a hotel room, do your reseach. Find the best deal available (which will often be with a well-known web-site) and then call the hotel and ask them to discount this by 10%.
These websites (am I allowed to mention them by name?) charge the hotel approx 15% commission on every booking. By booking directly with the hotel, you will actually save them this 15% commission - hence asking for the 10% discount.
It's a win : win deal. You get a good discount and they save themselves 5%.
I've no idea whether this will work elsewhere (we personally have a "Price Match Promise" deal for exactly this reason), but the logic's good, so have a go. You will probably need to speak to the General Manager, Front Office Manager or Resertvations Manager, as it is unlikely that the Reservations or Reception staff will be empowered to make decisions of this kind.
Good luck!
These websites (am I allowed to mention them by name?) charge the hotel approx 15% commission on every booking. By booking directly with the hotel, you will actually save them this 15% commission - hence asking for the 10% discount.
It's a win : win deal. You get a good discount and they save themselves 5%.
I've no idea whether this will work elsewhere (we personally have a "Price Match Promise" deal for exactly this reason), but the logic's good, so have a go. You will probably need to speak to the General Manager, Front Office Manager or Resertvations Manager, as it is unlikely that the Reservations or Reception staff will be empowered to make decisions of this kind.
Good luck!
I am the General Manager of an hotel in Telford and am happy to offer advice. I can't promise to be perfect, but I'm happy to try to help.
:cheesy:
:cheesy:
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Comments
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Does your hotel participate in either Priceline or Hotwire?
If you do I'd be interested in knowing how you select the rate and when you do that.
Cheers0 -
It's swings and roundabouts. I tend to think that if you book from a hotel online website e.g Skoosh/Travel Republic/Alpha rooms and then compare the price from the hotels own website it is cheaper to book through the hotel specialist online website, especially booking hotels abroad.0
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Sorry. I don't wish to appear rude (I know a lot of meaning can be lost in text) but you are missing the point here.It's swings and roundabouts. I tend to think that if you book from a hotel online website e.g Skoosh/Travel Republic/Alpha rooms and then compare the price from the hotels own website it is cheaper to book through the hotel specialist online website, especially booking hotels abroad.
There are great savings to be made by cutting out the middle man who is only interested in making their commision. I always recommend that peoiple get a few online quotes then speak to inhouse res at the hotel of their choice.
Hotels, in the present economic climate, need foot fall. Why waste your money by booking with third party agents who charge the full price at the time of booking rather than speaking to hotels directly to try and get the best deal with an actual cancellation policy.
I phone dozens of hotels every day to ask if they can beat their lowest available quote, and nine times out of ten, I make considerable savings for my clients which even beat corporate rates. You don't need to go into the conversation quoting other online rates, just politely ask "what's the best rate you can offer me for that night?". Inhouse reservations will tell you straight if they have plenty or limited availability and if it is limited, they will also tell you why.
If they have a wedding or conference inhouse that has eaten up their availability, don't be too shy of asking what hotels they can recommend nearby.
When I worked in inhouse res, if we were busy, I would happily offer to call a couple of hotels in the area and get back to the client with the best available rate, and I was on first name terms with all the res staff within a 10mile radius because we all did the same.
Also, I book hotels all over the World and it is shocking how much you can save by calling them direct or sending a polite email enquiry.0 -
I've also tried this approach with very small hotels and motels (usually owner operated) with some success. Last year I went to New Zealand in their winter so it was low season and I knew from previous experience a lot of places would be half empty. So I emailed the places I fancied to ask if they had any winter deals or discounts available. Pretty much everywhere gave me a small discount, last years price, free breakfast, free upgrade to a better room etc. It costs nothing to ask, just be friendly and polite. I've found most places would rather have a confirmed booking than let you go elsewhere.0
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It's swings and roundabouts. I tend to think that if you book from a hotel online website e.g Skoosh/Travel Republic/Alpha rooms and then compare the price from the hotels own website it is cheaper to book through the hotel specialist online website, especially booking hotels abroad.
You could well be right, when comparing one website with another. My point was to conduct your reseach on the web, then call the hotel (in-house reservations) and ask them to discount. By saving them the 15% (can be more, can be less - some sites charge up to 30%, some as little as 5%), everyone can save money.
Feel free to book in what-ever manner you are most comfortable with, I was just hoping to offer some help from someone "on the inside". We have a "Privce Match Promise" to do eactly this - cut out the "middle man" and save ourselves a whacking-great commission bill.
Also might be worth asking whether they have a negotiated corporate rate available for your company, or whom-ever you are visiting, particularly if you are travelling mid-week to a business, rather than leisure hotel. My hotel is business midweek and the rates are generally much higher. However, we have good corporate negotiated rates for most local firms, so there's another way you can save. If they don't have one, ask to set one up - you'll be surprised how willing hotels are to discount their rates in exchange for your loyalty.
If you'd like more advice, just shout!I am the General Manager of an hotel in Telford and am happy to offer advice. I can't promise to be perfect, but I'm happy to try to help.
:cheesy:0 -
To repeat my question:
Do you participate in Priceline or Hotwire?0 -
Sorry I didn't reply. No we don't. I must admit, I've not heard of them (the ignorance!) - what are they and how do they work?I am the General Manager of an hotel in Telford and am happy to offer advice. I can't promise to be perfect, but I'm happy to try to help.
:cheesy:0 -
Look at the Wiki definition in this guide0
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Not yet, but I'll certainly look into them now. thanks for the tip!I am the General Manager of an hotel in Telford and am happy to offer advice. I can't promise to be perfect, but I'm happy to try to help.
:cheesy:0
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