Here's the scenario - you get off a crowded plane, catch a cab to your hotel just to find that they have lost your reservation and don't have a room for you because the hotel is fully booked. You find out that the hotel is servicing an international conference that is in town on the same weekend that you decided to get away for some R&R.
You make your way out of the lobby and into the next hotel. The lady at the desk is ready to check you in, under the conference rate of $99 per night, a saving of over $200 to stay at the Hyatt instead of the Best Western across the street. What a great deal! The only thing is, is your conscience - are you going to tell her the truth that you are not in town for the conference? Heck no. Why does she care?
Believe it or not, hotels do cater to conferences and events happening in town. The discounts can vary, depending on how many attendees come into town for the conference. Take for example, the RSA Conference in San Francisco during the April 7 - 11, 2008. They estimate over 17,000 people will be attending, so they have negotiated with several hotels in the area and have come up with some pretty good rates. I've compared their rates with rates I've obtained using my traveller's search engine (which is a culmination of Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc.). Here's the comparison:
- JW Marriott - my price $319, their price $289
- Westin St Francis - my price $284, their price $249
- W - my price $440, their price $279
- St Regis - my price $469, their price $379
- Prescott - my price $323, their price $174
Depending on the hotel, you can save anywhere from 10-40% off. Don't feel bad that you are staying with them and not attending the conference. It's not like you're staying for free. You are a paid customer and a welcomed guest of the hotel.
If you're interested in being in San Francisco during this time, book a hotel of your choice by calling reservations and telling them you are attending the RSA Conference.
