Tips on How to Obtain Special Discounts on Hotel Bookings
Tips on How to Obtain Special Discounts on Hotel Bookings
In the hospitality industry, it is a common practice to advertise generous discounts to guests. It is a good way for them to increase their reputation and at the same time generate revenues. However, with increasing competition among the industry players, discounts on bookings are at a rise with the change of times and the global economic crisis, such that travelers would resort to looking for the best deals around. Given these times, it takes one to salvage a special discount on hotel booking aside from the advertised discount rate by the hotel.
As most travelers and even the public would know it, they'd learn of regular discounts through the following means:
word of mouth advertising,
print adverts,
through another entity, such as travel agencies and similar instrumentalities in the hospitality industry, or
through electronic means, such as social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, which is increasingly becoming popular.
Regular hotel discounts are taken advantage of through these channels:
phone-based reservations,
group bookings (multiple travelers) which is best done in advance,
reservations being sold with tour packages, or
just by simply walking in to the hotel and inquiring about the discount.
As for the best season to take advantage of these rates, it's normally best to look at hotel deals during off-peak seasons, since hotel operators normally do not offer discounts during peak seasons such as Christmas, Easter, and local festivals.
However, if the traveler is on a tight budget, one shouldn't fret. Industry insiders have some sound advice on how travelers can still take advantage of special discounts on hotel bookings aside from the low advertised rates that these establishments already offer, but would still translate into a win-win situation with the traveler, business, and the tourism industry in general:
1. Haggling is OK. Check with the front office personnel and see if other rates could still be taken advantage of. Also, as always, do advance booking for the trip and stay, and there's no harm in haggling further on the day of arrival;
2. In dealing with rates, do not call the general customer service helpline with the purpose of inquiring about discounts. Deal with the hotel directly. The general customer service line could only quote national or general rates; whereas hotels, when contacted directly, can even offer drop-down rates. And just like any call to the customer service helpline, take note of the person who took care of the reservation and even its phone number, for protection purposes - remember, it's a good defense if they doesn’t honor the special discount;
3. Most guests may be unaware of this, but it is best to ask for "super-saver rates" - these are specials or further discounts that could be accorded by the hotel if in case the advertised rates are not for the guest's liking. These are nominally given at the discretion of the hotel management; and
4. Make sure that no additional charges/surcharges will be billed by the hotel in case of additional services that would be included in the booking. If these services are not a necessity or if unsure, then better leave that off.