What is a 'preferential code' at Novotel?
 

I am trying to get a reasonable price on the Novotel les Halles in Paris, and their web site asks for a 'preferential code'. What is that? If I leave that field blank, I get some horrendous rack rate.

Hi Nicol,

If you don't have a code you are not a preferred customer and you will get the rack rate. :)

But if you join Club France you can get a 25% weekend discount or 10% on weekdays.

What is "Club France"? Sounds useful.

Club France is a promotional organization that secures discounts and special offers from of French hotels, tourist bureaux, car-rental agencies, etc. You can join at

http://us.franceguide.com/clubfrance...sp?z1=weXmIERA

Membership costs $25.

If you are a bit of a gambler, you could try doing a 4* bid in the Opera Quarter East zone of Paris on Priceline. This is the only known 4* hotel that has appeared in this zone. It is possible another one could show up, but unlikely in my opinion. Winning bids have been in the $110-125 USD range/night + taxes and fees.

There are a variety of preferential codes within the Accor group. We have, for example, the Favorite Guest card, but there are others.
Just because you don't have a preferential code does not mean you will only be offered the rack rate. If you book on the Accor site, you may often find Internet specials that are even cheaper than the preferential code. For our upcoming weekend in Paris, the Favorite Guest rate at the Sofitel Le Parc (in the 16th) is 210 euros per night, breakfast excluded, or an Internet rate of about 250 euros per night, breakfast *included* (breakfast is normally 26 euros per person). For two people who want breakfast, the Internet rate works out to be cheaper than the Favorite Guest rate.
From time to time, they also offer even cheaper rates that are nonrefundable--i.e., you can't cancel your reservations for any reason.
The reason you are getting only the rack rate is that you've probably picked a popular week-end and the hotel has already sold enough rooms that they don't need to offer any discounts for the remaining rooms (except to preferential customers who are guaranteed a discount). You might want to check some other Paris hotels in the Accor group that have availability...discounts might be available for some of those.