Ask the Hotel If They Offer Discounts for Booking Directly With Them
Third-party booking sites may offer better hotel deals, but hotels generally prefer you to book directly with them. In fact, some hotels even offer you perks for this. The next time you are looking for accommodation, call the hotel directly and ask if they have anything special to offer.
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that many hotels are encouraging guests to book directly through their websites so they don’t have to pay the 15-25% commission that many third-party sites like Expedia.com charge. Here are a couple of examples they give in the article:
In terms of perks, the Amarano Hotel in Burbank offers guests who book direct either a $ 25 food and beverage credit for use at the hotel’s restaurants, or an upgrade. Guests booking direct with the Beverly Hilton enjoy free Wi-Fi.
In Hawaii, the hotel management team distributes $ 20 Starbucks gift cards daily to guests who book directly at the Lite Group hotels, as well as 12 other hotels on the islands.
However, if you are looking to save some money, in many cases these third party sites offer a better deal. However, it doesn’t hurt to call the hotel directly and ask if they’ll be up to par with the price, or at least offer some incentive to book directly with them. For more information, follow the links below.
Hotels Utilize Guest Privileges Against Online Travel Agencies | LA Times via Consumerist