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Few business trips are coming up. They need to be booked by my workplace’s travel agent per their rules. I have the freedom to choose whichever hotel I want — within reasonable limits.
I am in Hilton points game, but I know that Hilton wouldn’t give me points/stay credits for it. Do you guys know any chain that’d honour a travel agent’s booking for points?
What’s the name of your workplace travel agent? Normally you will get status benefits through these, but it can depend.
The CEO of Global Hotels Alliance said at a media event recently that they respect benefits – not sure about earning and not actually seen this independently verified either.
What’s the name of your workplace travel agent? Normally you will get status benefits through these, but it can depend.
Selective Travel.
The CEO of Global Hotels Alliance said at a media event recently that they respect benefits – not sure about earning and not actually seen this independently verified either.
Getting a GHA Discovery hotel would be great ideally. But I’m sure it won’t work in immediate future.
Last May I booked an NH in Italy via my workplace agent. GHA Discovery App said “not eligible” for D$ or nights unfortunately.
You get the points from most Corporate Travel agencies – that is the point (pun not intended) – to drive the booking of frequent business travelers, most of whom have a little discretion to choose but not much. I’m not familiar with your agents, but I assume it will be a refundable rate with a decent cancellation policy (day of or day before), then you should be fine. Especially if they store your FF numbers in the system and apply that to the bookings for you. If none of those things are true, then you have to worry about them – they might be white labeling someone like Expedia!
You get the points from most Corporate Travel agencies – that is the point (pun not intended) – to drive the booking of frequent business travelers, most of whom have a little discretion to choose but not much. I’m not familiar with your agents, but I assume it will be a refundable rate with a decent cancellation policy (day of or day before), then you should be fine. Especially if they store your FF numbers in the system and apply that to the bookings for you. If none of those things are true, then you have to worry about them – they might be white labeling someone like Expedia!
Hi, I don’t get any points from my corporate travel agent. Cancellation policy is not my concern at the moment, it is good enough for me.
You get the points from most Corporate Travel agencies – that is the point (pun not intended) – to drive the booking of frequent business travelers, most of whom have a little discretion to choose but not much. I’m not familiar with your agents, but I assume it will be a refundable rate with a decent cancellation policy (day of or day before), then you should be fine. Especially if they store your FF numbers in the system and apply that to the bookings for you. If none of those things are true, then you have to worry about them – they might be white labeling someone like Expedia!
That is often the cause with flights but many hotel chains specifically exclude non direct bookings from earning points / nights.
Status benefits are a different issue and that is down to individual hotels what they provide (or not).
Palladium Rewards gives points for third party bookings.
Palladium Rewards gives points for third party bookings.
Thanks. First direct answer to my question 🙂
Never had an issue with IHG, best western or Hilton giving points and benefits through a corporate travel provider (OTAs are very different).
Having looked at the travel providers website that you mentioned, it does appear to be a corporate travel provider not an OTA so should give points regardless
Thanks.
That’s a news to me. Last I booked an NH hotel using my GHA number. Didn’t get points.Thanks.
That’s a news to me. Last I booked an NH hotel using my GHA number. Didn’t get points.I think the answer is that there is no single answer! Corporate travel agents will source rooms in many different ways, including via third party OTAs which may not be immediately visible to the traveller. Some bookings, although made by the agent are part of an hotel deal negotiated with a company for individual hotels/groups they use heavily. Also, individual hotels deal with the issue of status and points in different ways, some more generously than others.
Palladium Rewards gives points for third party bookings.
Thanks. First direct answer to my question 🙂
I think the range of answers show there is no simple answer to this 🙂
You get the points from most Corporate Travel agencies – that is the point (pun not intended) – to drive the booking of frequent business travelers, most of whom have a little discretion to choose but not much. I’m not familiar with your agents, but I assume it will be a refundable rate with a decent cancellation policy (day of or day before), then you should be fine. Especially if they store your FF numbers in the system and apply that to the bookings for you. If none of those things are true, then you have to worry about them – they might be white labeling someone like Expedia!
That is often the cause with flights but many hotel chains specifically exclude non direct bookings from earning points / nights.
Status benefits are a different issue and that is down to individual hotels what they provide (or not).
I’ve used many corporate agents, but most of my booking have gone through CWT (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel). No hotel chains exclude these bookings from earning points. They exclude OTAs, but bend over backwards for corporate travel agents, even on the extremely rare prepaid rates. It sounds like the OP has some niche player that is white-labeling an OTA
@SBIre – it isn’t as simple as you suggest. One example is American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) not a niche player, which partners with Expedia (and following the acquisition of Egencia, Expedia has an ownership stake in GBT). If your company uses GBT, your hotel reservation may be made directly on an Amex deal or via Expedia or indeed another OTA such that any points/benefits may vary. It can also depend how the company sets up the arrangement (re perks/points) with the corporate travel provider.
The Amex/Expedia arrangement also affects people booking personally through Amex Travel.
A bit niche (not more so than Palladium) but Dorsett definitely awards points on OTA bookings.
Many thanks, again, for your invaluable inputs.
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