Hotel booking: are you really getting the best available rate?
When booking a hotel for a business trip, it is tempting to search online, find a price that looks good and book it.
But is the cheapest rate you can see actually the best option for your business?
Not always. Hotel rates can vary depending on availability, location and where you book. There may also be corporate rates, negotiated rates and other offers available through a travel management company (TMC) that you would not find through a single booking site.
Having access to these options, alongside the expertise to compare them, can make a real difference to the value you get from your hotel spend.
It is about more than the room rate
A £140 room with breakfast and flexible cancellation could offer better value than a £125 room where breakfast costs extra and the booking cannot be changed.
Location matters too. A slightly more expensive hotel close to a meeting, airport or heliport could save money on taxis, parking and travel time.
The best rate is not necessarily the lowest number on the screen. It is the option that offers the right balance of price, flexibility, location and what is included.
Access to more rates, more choice
This is where working with a TMC can help.
Hotel rates are available through different channels, including the Global Distribution System (GDS) and negotiated corporate rates. Prices, availability and booking conditions can vary depending on the property and dates.
Through Atriis, our online booking tool, Munro’s Travel brings together a wide range of hotel options and rates, including negotiated corporate rates and other available content. Our global hotel partnerships also provide access to preferential rates and benefits at participating properties.
This allows bookers to compare available options and choose what best suits their trip, budget and requirements, rather than relying on a single booking source.
The value of a dedicated account manager
Access to competitive rates is one part of the picture. Understanding how those options work for your business is just as important.
A dedicated account manager gets to know your travel patterns, preferred locations and business requirements. They can work with you to identify opportunities, review hotel spend and explore where supplier relationships or negotiated rates could deliver better value.
For businesses with regular travel to particular locations, this could mean reviewing where travellers are staying, identifying opportunities to consolidate bookings or exploring whether a preferred hotel arrangement makes sense.
Making hotel booking simpler
A good booking process should make finding the right hotel straightforward, whether the booking is being made by the traveller or on their behalf.
With our online booking tool, bookers can search, compare and book available options in one place, within their company's travel policy. Traveller profiles and preferences can also help make the process more efficient.
For businesses managing crew travel, our full bill-back facility simplifies hotel payments and reconciliation, reducing the administrative burden on internal teams.
Combined with the support of a dedicated account manager, this brings together the convenience of online booking with the knowledge and experience of a travel management team.
Are you getting the best value from your hotel spend?
The cheapest rate is not always the best rate. Before booking, consider what is included, the cancellation terms, the location and what other rates may be available.
Working with a TMC gives your business access to a wider range of hotel options, alongside support to understand your travel needs, review your spend and identify opportunities to improve value over time.
Want to find out how your business could get more from its hotel bookings?
