The business or pleasure traveler can save money on both hotel rooms and car rentals with the right negotiating techniques.
How to Negotiate With Hotels
Every night, approximately one-third of all hotel rooms in the country are vacant. Hotels are more negotiable on rates than every before. Travelers are better off negotiating directly with the hotel instead of the chain’s toll-free reservations line. As with most negotiating, being shy isn’t helpful.
Don’t accept the first rate that’s offered. Hotels have dozens of rates for their rooms, and they usually quote from the top (referred to as the “rack rate”) down. Ask what the corporate rate is, and what special or promotional rates are available. “Krunch” them, saying something like, “Can you sharpen your pencil on this one?” If they won’t move on the rate, ask for a suite at the regular room rate or a room on the concierge floor.
Hotels know that any revenue from a room is better than none, and reservation agents and front-desk staff are increasingly being trained not to let customers get away because of price. If all else fails, ask to speak with the manager. He may provide a deal rather than let the room go vacant.
A traveler’s leverage is highest when reserving a room, but even with a reservation it’s still possible to negotiate for a better rate or a room upgrade upon check in. Of course, any kind of a problem calls for a nice concession from the hotel.
Organizations with even moderate hotel usage (as little as 50 person-nights per year) can negotiate attractive discounts with hotel chains. The more an organizatgion uses a particular hotel or chain, the better the deal that can be negotiated.
How to Negotiate With Rental Car Companies
Once again, what isn’t asked for, won’t be given. The savvy traveler knows when to speak up and how to get the best deal. Rental car rates have always been negotiable, but most customers don’t negotiate. Rental car negotiations are best conducted at the rental counter. Like hotels, car rental companies have many rates for their cars, and the first quote is usually the highest. Begin negotiating from there.
Find out what the corporate rate is and what specials are available. Krunch even those rates (“We’ve got to be able to do better than this!”). Nibble for a car-class upgrade. The customer can even go counter-to-counter and auction your business to the lowest bidder. In addition to the foregoing, any mistakes by the rental company (for example, they haven’t got the model that was reserved) should always fetch suitable concessions.
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