Hotels - Choose your own or go with the agency?

[Scotchpie]

Hi

I'm considering my first contract away from home. Its in a city I know quite well and know of some cheap but comfortable hotels that don't cost the earth. The agent is trying to get me to use one of their preferred hotel chains, not forcibly but keeps bringing the subject up. I know the agency probably gets some kick back for this which I don't begrudge them, but for those more experienced at working away from home, do you find your own hotels or just go with the agent's preferred choice? Are there some cons with going with the agency I am unaware of?

Basically it comes down to the fact that I always have a suspicion when agents try to "help" that I'll end up worse off somehow.

Andrew

[SteelyDan]

Hi

I'm considering my first contract away from home. Its in a city I know quite well and know of some cheap but comfortable hotels that don't cost the earth. The agent is trying to get me to use one of their preferred hotel chains, not forcibly but keeps bringing the subject up. I know the agency probably get some kick back for this which I don't begrudge them, but for those more experienced at working away from home, do you find your own hotels or just go with the agents preferred choice? Are there some cons with going with the agency I am unaware of?

Basically it comes down to the fact that I always have a suspicion when agents try to "help" that I'll end up worse off somehow.

Andrew

Sorry, but...really?

[TheDandy]

All other things being equal, is it commercially advantageous to you? Never experienced it myself though.

[quackhandle]

Never heard of agency recommending a specific chain of hotel before. Ring local B&B's and hotels/motels/outhouses/doghouses/etc and say you'll be using them quite a bit and see if they negotiate on price.

On my last gig away the local B&B's would never reduce their prices but Days Inn were quite good, even online was around 45-50 pn. + free wifi.

http://forums.contractoruk.com/gener...otel-tips.html

qh

[speling bee]

Nice pub with rooms.

[SueEllen]

Basically it comes down to the fact that I always have a suspicion when agents try to "help" that I'll end up worse off somehow.

Not necessarily.

Lots of hotels have links with businesses where they give the business' staff a "discount" in order to gain business.

Sometimes you can negotiate the same discount yourself or find it via alternative sources....

Choose the hotel, B&B or whatever you like to stay in best.

[cojak]

What?? The agent never is involved in this. All he/she cares about is that you turn up at the client in time.

Someone is pulling someone else's plonker...

[SueEllen]

What?? The agent never is involved in this. All he/she cares about is that you turn up at the client in time.

Someone is pulling someone else's plonker...

I had an agency trying to give me hotel details with a discounted rate.

I later found out they had got them from the client.

[Scotchpie]

Thanks for the replies and the link. I'll listen to what the agency has to say and look around/negotiate myself and see which is best. The interviewer on the phone also mentioned he had hired contractors from this agency before and helped them with accommodation so can't be all bad I suppose.

The contracts in York by the way.

[eek]

I had an agency trying to give me hotel details with a discounted rate.

I later found out they had got them from the client.

I've twice used a client discounted rate.

On both occasions I was able to negotiate a better rate for subsequent bookings.