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Booking a hotel room can be tricky, particular if you are conscious about your expenses
Our case study here looks at the various ways how to book the Manila Hotel a renowned 5*Hotel with tradition.
Naturally we did not expect Ms. Garcia-Roman, Sales Manager of the Manila Hotel to reveal her rock bottom contractual room rates which she promoted at the ATF to international tour wholesaler/travel agents etc but concentrating on “What is available online”
In the old days it was easy ,just book your hotel with your travel agent or directly with the hotel. It was or still is standard practice to pay the travel agent a commission of 10% unless the agent had a specially agreed on contractual rate. Contractual rates could vary depends on the locality of the agent E.g. travelers from Japan could be ask a different rate than lets say from India etc. We not sure if the Manila hotel is engaging in this practice. We ask but no reply received. Some travel agents book hotels in the Philippines with Manila based inbound wholesalers but this seems to be a cost increasing factor since it amounts to use basically a “middle man” and travel agents found out be unable to offer competitive rates. Anyway we noted substantial differences in what is available online. Our request was for 1 room for 1 night for 2 people incl. breakfast arriving 30. June 2014 And this are the quotes we got:
Manila Hotel direct own website US$ 200.- Agoda US$ 200.- Booking.com US$ 180.- Asia rooms US$ 162.- HotelTravel.com US$ 143.-
*if you research yourself rates may be different due to fluctuating exchange rates.
However the best deal apparently was not offered by anyone but was promoted by the Manila Hotel themselves at the 21st. Travel Tour Expo held in Manila Feb. 14-16 Membership in the “Prestige Club” For US$ 175.- (note less than the online room rate) Incl. 1 night room, free buffet dinner for 2 (about value $ 100.- +) P 800.–(about $ 20.-) spending voucher for the Champagne room. 2 voucher for special 2 night room rate of P 10000 (about $ 125.– per room per night) 50% discount on restaurant bills if 2 people are dining together. Plus numerous other discounts at the hotel. Valid for 1 year.
Interested please contact Karmina De Ungria at the Manila hotel.
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