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Gatlinburg Cabins for Corporate Retreats
Cabins sleeping 2 to 50 with Projection Screen Rooms and wireless internet. www.YourCabin.com
Question: A buddy of mine - a self-employed professional - drives me nuts bragging about the great hotel deals he gets when traveling for business, while I always seem to pay top dollar. I'm planning a trip right now and as with other business owners, every dollar comes out of my own pocket. What's the secret to saving money on places to stay? Answer: Hotel room pricing, much like airfare, is complex and uneven. On any given floor in a hotel, occupants might be paying up to 20 different rates for the same room. Price conscious entrepreneurs traveling on business can save a ton of money by making the right hotel booking moves. "The hotel industry hasn't quite caught up to the pricing sophistication of the airlines, so you can be quoted very different rates for the same room depending on whom you call," says William Mitchell, author of Hassle-Free Business Travel (Ten Speed Press, 2003). "There is no single source that guarantees the lowest rate." A little effort combined with luck and timing are your best weapons. Web sites run by the hotels themselves are a convenient place to comparison shop, but you won't necessarily get the best rate. In some cases it's best to call the hotel chain's toll-free reservations number. In other cases, calling individual hotels directly works best. But no matter whom you call, says Mitchell, expect to hear the highest "rack rate" first. Before you accept that rate, try asking if something better is available. Even calling the same number on different days can get you a better deal. Online hotel booking agencies that negotiate special deals with select hotels can be an excellent place for business owners to save time and money. These sites specialize in hotels, and some offer bookings only in certain cities. Many offer convenient search tools to help you find hotels with specific amenities or features that you need, at discount prices. These are our favorites:
Featured Vendor
Group Hotel Rates and Group Travel by HotelPlanner.com
Did you lock in a group rate for your upcoming event? We specialize in business meetings, conferences, weddings, reunions, sports teams or any group. HotelPlanner.com
Here are some other money-saving tips and strategies:
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Daniel Kehrer (editor@business.com) is Editor at Business.com, the leading business search engine.
© 2006 Business.com, Inc.
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