Best Internet Rate Guarantees for Hotels
Best Internet Rate Guarantees for Hotels
Airline employees should easily be able to understand the frustration trying to figure out if you got the best deal on a hotel room. The airline industry has been criticized for having too many rates in the market that make no sense to consumers.
The hotels in the GOZed.com program were chosen to allow fair confidence that a room you book online is going to be there when you get there and that it's the best price.
The Internet exploded the number of possible outlets that you can purchase from but at the same time made things very confusing. This had the effect of it being much harder for hotels to provide discounts to airline employees because their public rates changed so often, the industry rate may not be a deal at all, even if you can find a hotel employee that knows a deal exists.
To combat frustrated customers, the chains currently participating in our program (Choice, Best Western, Marriott, InterContinental Hotel Group, and Accor Hotels) each have their own version of a best Internet rate guarantee.
The basic premise is that if you book online from the chain's web site and, within about 48 hours, find a better online price for the same room and dates, you will get a discount off the better price.
As you sit back and think about this, you likely have realized that, like many warranties, the onus lies on you, the consumer, to do some research.
Here's the 3 step strategy we suggest:
- Book the room in the hotel and city that you want with one of the hotels you can find via http://www.gozed.com/travel-notes-world
- Before completing the booking, double check that the usual cancellation policy applies. Normally you can cancel without penalty the day before. Some resort destinations may have some different rules so be careful. If the cancellation policy is good, make the booking and note down the price per night and the room type.
- Shop around. We suggest looking at Expedia.com and Hotels.com as they offer competitive rates. Note for folks in the UK, Canada and Australia have their own versions of these sites, including expedia.ca, expedia.co.uk, expedia.com.au, hotels.ca, hotels.co.uk, hotels.com.au.
- If you find a cheaper rate, apply for the guarantee within 2 days of the original booking and hope to beat the rate. See the chart below for links to apply for rate changes.
- Less Risk of Inventory Issues
The hotel inventory is controlled by the managers of the actual hotel. Their own organizational skills are directly related to whether the room you book is real or not. Many of the hotels in these chains are run by franchise holders. Their loyalty is to their own sales efforts followed by maintaining the inventory rules set out by the chains. The rates posted to sites like Expedia and Hotels.com are based on net price deals.
- Better Booking Terms
Web sites like Expedia and Hotels.com charge a fee up front and the cancellation policies are usually much less friendly. For example on one Expedia special rate, they state that that your credit card will be charged for the full payment upon reservation. The chain's polices are that you pay upon departure. With the uncertainty of contingent travel, airline employees need the flexibility that the chain web site offers.
Guarantee Comparison Chart
| Chain | Brands | Guarantee Link | Rate |
| Choice Hotels | Comfort Inn
Comfort Suites Quality Sleep Inn Cambria Suites MainStay Suites Econo Lodge Rodeway Inn and Suburban Extended Stay | Choice Hotels Guarantee | 10% |
| IHG | InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts Hotel Indigo Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts Holiday Inn Select Holiday Inn SunSpree Resorts Holiday Inn Garden Court Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn Holiday Inn Express Staybridge Suites Candlewood Suites | IHG Guarantee | 10% |
| Marriott | Marriott Hotels & Resorts JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts Renaissance Hotels & Resorts Courtyard Residence Inn Fairfield Inn Marriott Conference Centers TownePlace Suites by Marriott SpringHill Suites by Marriott Marriott Vacation Club International The Ritz-Carlton Marriott ExecuStay Marriott Executive Apartments | Marriott Guarantee | 25% |
| Accor | Sofitel Mercure Novotel Red Roof Inn Motel 6 Studio 6 Suitehotel Ibis Etap | Each brand has its own link. Look for it when booking | 10% |
| Best Western | No sub brands | Best Western Guarantee | 10% |
Challenges in Applying
1. When we did our own research we found that the room types and descriptions vary between the chains' own web sites and the competing sites. It was sometimes challenging to determine if you were comparing apples to apples. Our suggestion is that when the room type has the same number and type of beds, (e.g. two double beds) then they are reasonable comparisons. Using this logic, apply for the rate change if it makes sense and see what happens. You can still cancel the booking (normally) the day before.
2. Currency can be confusing. We suggest that you use the local site's rates. For example if you are travelling to the UK, the chain sites normally quote in local currency. For comparison, use the Expedia type site's local .co.uk. site.
We suggest that you apply for the guarantee even if there is uncertainty in the currency or room class description. The worst thing they'll do is say no!
Article Date: April 28, 2008
Author: Robert Ford