Stark Raving Nomad

All Marriott and Sheraton hotels participate in Priceline and other name-your-price sites. I can (and I have gotten) $250+ published rate rooms for $45 to $65 per night during the week. That is a massive discount against published rates. But going from one hotel to another every week gets tiring, so I rather stay put…

I need to stay in the Washington DC area for six months plus, flying in on Sundays and flying out on Thursdays (and sometimes Fridays) – meaning either a 4 night or 5 night stay per week, every week for my current consulting gig.

Right now, I am at a hotel that does give me a discounted rate but their customer service department is on the “very lacking” side of the equation. So, I am hunting around for another hotel.

Now, if the hotels are at sellout conditions on a frequent basis, there is no reason to deal. But they aren’t and they use Priceline and still have empty rooms on a daily basis (on the average of course, if there is a special event, the hotel may be sold out for a few days in the week).

So do you think they would sell me one dinky room on a weekly basis for more than they can get for Priceline or have that room go empty?

Empty.

All the Marriott and Sheraton (all brand levels) that I talked to would rather have the room go empty; or, if lucky, some pittance from Priceline – than to negotiate a long term deal. How idiotic can you be, especially when the economy super-sucks like it is now?

Aaargh!

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