tips to access corporate hotel booking rates at overseas hotels

[180mis]

Hello,
First time poster, long time fan.

I was hoping someone could give me advice or a 'hack' on how to access corporate hotel booking rates, particularly overseas in HK and China (Guangzhou to be specific)

my preference is to stay at 5 Star hotels (if the budget allows) and from what a friend-of-a-friend told me, the savings are sometimes 40-50% cheaper than the cheapest advertised rate on the hotel website.

any tips/tricks/hacks anyone has, I would be most appreciative.

Thank you

180mis.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Welcome to AFF 180mis!

If 5* hotels were regularly available at 50% off the cheapest possible rate - the hotel would go broke in no time!
These deals simply do not exist for individuals outside of heavily discounted sales promotions or industry pricing (which require ID/proof of association at check in).

Additionally, using corporate/gov/discounted rates reduce your chances of an upgrade by up to 50% - and China is pretty cheap in the major chains anyway.

In fact I know one AFFer who recently got a better rate by cancelling their corporate (CBA) rate and booking a standard rate!

 

[180mis]

Thank you for your reply. I was hoping for some industry insider info from someone in the know.

much appreciated.


Fwiw i prefer hyatt/grand hyatt chain.

 

[featheast]

Well if you can read and speak Chinese, one tip I can give you is to search hotels on Taobao (EBay equivalent in China). Most of the hotels can be booked from there with a significant saving, which usually comes with breakfast as well. There are many sources for this deal, many of them are originated from various travel agencies, so it's definitely legit.

Not only for hotels in mainland China, you can book hotels in pretty much all countries in East and South East Asia.

The catch is first you need to be able to tell the "good" seller from the "bad" seller, secondly you won't get any points/stays, and of course a card/payment which is accepted by Alipay.

I have done many stays before in mainland, HKG, SIN and Japan, all valid without any hassle.

 

[moa999]

Many/most corporate rates require ID or be booked with a corporate email so using them can be dangerous.
Some chains have some codes that are more available, although not aware any for the programs you are after.

That said if you book 30+ days in advance and advance pay, you will often get deals that are much better than most corporate rates - which are normally priced at a slight discount to normal rack rates.
(Government rates can be a steal however)

 

[Traveller1955]

Do not forget to join the Hyatt club as they give free upgrades if available to bigger rooms. All for free!!!

 

[Keith009]

I qualify for industry discounts which are usually fulfilled with a special rate code or more commonly (especially outside Australia), in lieu of a formal agreement, I'd simply email the property asking for a discount with my work email. Level of discounting varies between properties, and how receptive they are to giving out industry discounts, but have had very generous offers of ~50% off on best available rates at places like overwater villas at the W Maldives or a 25% discount on a nice suite at a boutique hotel in NYC with a space available upgrade to an even larger suite. Whilst they have saved me a lot of money on standard rates over the years, they aren't always cheaper than what you can get publicly. At some properties they're even dearer than the standard best available flex rates! The great thing about the industry rates like corporate rates is they're usually fully flex until day of or day before stay, so I'd book them in as placeholders until I spot a better advance purchase rate during a sale closer to departure when my plans are firmer.

 

[aaflyer]

Do not forget to join the Hyatt club as they give free upgrades if available to bigger rooms. All for free!!!

Only if you hold Diamond status, and very very rarely, Platinum. Base level Gold Passport does not afford free upgrades or bigger rooms (I'm Hyatt Diamond).

To the OP, as others have said, corporate rates are negotiated with large companies and properties do ask for ID/proof of entitlement at check-in. Failure to provide this may see you being charged at rack-rates, which can be exorbitant amounts of cash.

 

[180mis]

Thank you Keith009, much appreciated.