Nobody likes the annual corporate hotel RFP process. Buyers want longer-term deals, but the industry’s sourcing infrastructure doesn’t effectively support them. What about negotiating evergreen deals that tie rates to market indexes? Elevance Health travel services consultant Dan Stagnitta is exploring it. During a June 6 BTN webinar sponsored by Cvent, Stagnitta described as “silliness”…
Several big lodging chains and a data intermediary face allegations of unreasonable restraint of trade regarding hotel rates, in violation of antitrust regulations. A set of seven plaintiffs, seeking class-action status for untold numbers of others, accused CoStar, which owns Smith Travel Research, along with Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels, Loews Hotels and Marriott, of…
Pricing power for lodging suppliers, an altered traveler profile and uncertainty on the buyer side created unusual outcomes for 2023 rate negotiations. At some Hilton properties, this meant refusing to offer static negotiated rates and walking away from business. As customers sought to move rate programs back to the traditional static structure from a dynamic…
Cvent tried to make its transient hotel sourcing technology more than “adequate” as of this summer. At this point, though, “functional” would please clients. Sources said the new tools were falling down just when they’re most needed — deep in the negotiating season for 2023 rates. A Cvent media official did not respond to an…
Some say instant booking for small meeting space and associated guest rooms is poised to replace the request for proposals process in many instances. Cvent a year ago announced a partnership with Amadeus to develop this, but according to sources, some big chain hotel companies are not on board. They’re pushing such capabilities on their…
Demand for corporate travel lodging is accelerating but it’s not just volume that’s closing in on familiar territory. Average rates and the brands getting bookings also look more like they did in 2019, according to Tripbam data presented this month. “We are seeing a rapid increase in rate,” said Tripbam CEO Steve Reynolds during his…
KesselRun Corporate Travel Solutions vice president of client services Krissy Herman shares observations from the current sourcing season and what corporate hotel program managers should expect next year. This year is undeniably a very peculiar one for hotel sourcing. With business travel down, hotel rates fluctuating and uncertainties ahead in 2021, both corporate buyers and…
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