robjame

phoning the hotel.
Investigating hotel prices they rated the success at finding the cheapest prices most often:
1. phoning the hotel
2. the hotel's web site
3. travel agent
4. Travelocity and Expedia

Note that this includes no bidding sites, is a very small sample, was restricted to Canadian hotels only.
However it might be wise reconsider some of our options when booking.

irecommend

Yes, but do not phone the hotels 1-800 number. You must get the actual hotel and push to find their best rate. They always have a high start and I have found they will go down sometimes almost to 70% in some cases.

irecommend

Sorry I meant to 70% of the original quoted price.

robjame

Hi ir - I guess you mean don't phone a reservation service 1-800 number as many hotels do have their own 1-800 line.
In the example cited on CBC they saved $240+ for a weekend reservation by phoning the Frontenac in Quebec City compared to travelocity and expedia.
It was reported that hotels change their prices several times a day according to supply.

leavingsoon

This is interesting in that I tried to get a good rate at the Novotel at Tornoto airport, phoned direct and was quoted the top rate in comparison to:
Novotel's 800 number, Novotel's website and Expedia.

I then tried the Marriott and had the identical experience.

Perhaps it is for independent hotels only?

leavingsoon

By top rate, I mean most expensive of the three, by a good $30 CDN. When I mentioned this to the reservations agent at the hotel, she said Expedia was always wrong! (An experience I have never had with them ever).

icithecat

Robjame.
I think like others that CBC tried one example and extrapolated that to the industry for the purpose of their story.

We have had opposite examples at Holiday Inn Express in Vancouver and at some immemorable airport hotel at Gatwick.