|
 But when a change in plans required him to stay another day, all
bets were off. The price soared to $720 a night.
"I can understand a 20 percent, 30 percent increase, but we're
talking about 2-1/2 times more money just to stay in my room," said
Tuchman, managing director of Menlo Park, California-based
Rebalance-IRA.com.
Hotel experts say big price hikes after a discount runs out are not
uncommon, particularly where demand can change significantly in one
day.
Weddings, conventions, large events and even the start of the
business week can alter a hotel's pricing dramatically.
In Tuchman's case, only four of the hotel's 240 rooms were unbooked
for the extra night he wanted, and he was told the expectation was
they would sell out.
Scott Pusillo, vice president of market strategy for Viceroy Hotel
Group, says rates change with demand.
"Just like airlines, where peak demand days and flight times are
priced differently, individual hotel room prices are set on a daily
basis," he said.
HOW TO NEGOTIATE
Travelers have a few options when facing this situation.
The first stop should be the front desk, but be prepared to move on
quickly, because there is a high rate of failure, said Clem Bason,
chief executive officer of the hotel deal site goSeek.
If you are a frequent guest, that is one card to play. "The higher
your status the better," Bason said.
Many experts advise looking around. "Reserving a room at another
hotel within the guest’s ideal price range is probably the safest
bet," said Emily Hughes, co-founder of TripExpert.
You will then also know what kind of prices are reasonable to
negotiate.
[to top of second column] |
A couple of challenges await. First, you might not find anything
acceptable, either in price or quality. Or, like Tuchman and many
others who have already settled into a hotel room, you might dread
the idea of packing up your things to head somewhere else for one
night.
RAISE THE STAKES
After failing at the front desk, Tuchman employed a tactic
recommended by consumer advocates in most settings: He went higher
up the food chain.
To find the right person, travel experts advise asking for the
manager on duty, who will usually have the authority to adjust the
rate.
Tuchman did this and pleaded his case. The manager offered to drop
the rate to $600. Tuchman noted the value of goodwill, and the
manager offered a $500 rate.
Realizing he probably would have to pay $425 to $450 a night to stay
elsewhere, Tuchman accepted. The lesson: "Everything is negotiable."
(The author is a Reuters contributor. The opinions expressed are his
own.)
(Editing by Beth Pinsker and Lisa Von Ahn)
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