Reply to: Client wants to pay for hotel

[Spikeh]

Told you so!

Anyway, have you signed up to Hilton Honors yet?
https://secure3.hilton.com/en/hh/cus...oinHHonors.htm

Once you have signed up, just let them know your membership number when you check in, and then start chasing the points.

Done and done

[WTFH]

Woo, it's a Hilton!

Told you so!

Anyway, have you signed up to Hilton Honors yet?
https://secure3.hilton.com/en/hh/cus...oinHHonors.htm

Once you have signed up, just let them know your membership number when you check in, and then start chasing the points.

[Spikeh]

Travelodge/Premier Inn tend not to do good corporate discounts.

Woo, it's a Hilton!

[FK1]

My client has to pay for a hotel and flights if they want me onsite. I do not bother how it could be considered by any as that was a commercial offer from my side I am happy with. As a result that gradually built up remote work.

It is normal for them to do the same for their partners/visitors from other countries as a welcome gesture so if a taxman would consider that a employment factor then I will think them incompetent.
Even if it could be such then I believe among many others on big picture.

[Lance]

Travelodge/Premier Inn tend not to do large bungs to travel managers.

FTFY

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

There’s nothing to worry about. The client just wants to save money. You’re within your right to refuse and make your own arrangements but they probably won’t let you recharge the cost if you go down that route.

It’s a commercial decision, nothing to do with control.

[WTFH]

Nice

Half expecting to be plonked in a travel lodge or crumbling z-chain tbh. Don't trust clients to have the same taste / standards as me

Travelodge/Premier Inn tend not to do good corporate discounts.

[Spikeh]

A few others...
The client may have a per diem allowance for food & drink. That's not SDC either. That's them letting you know they will sign off your hotel bill (or your expenses invoice) up to that value. If they have an allowance, it's worth finding out what the limit is. Also, if you stay at a chain hotel and have a loyalty card, then eat in the restaurant and get the points. Offer to pick up the tab in the restaurant if others are staying there - get even more points.
Then you end up like me - over £1000 in Amazon vouchers for about 100 nights in Japan 18 months ago. (blowing some of it on an illuminated mil dot scope)

Nice

Half expecting to be plonked in a travel lodge or crumbling z-chain tbh. Don't trust clients to have the same taste / standards as me

[WTFH]

Good point, nicely made. Thanks

A few others...
The client may have a per diem allowance for food & drink. That's not SDC either. That's them letting you know they will sign off your hotel bill (or your expenses invoice) up to that value. If they have an allowance, it's worth finding out what the limit is. Also, if you stay at a chain hotel and have a loyalty card, then eat in the restaurant and get the points. Offer to pick up the tab in the restaurant if others are staying there - get even more points.
Then you end up like me - over £1000 in Amazon vouchers for about 100 nights in Japan 18 months ago. (blowing some of it on an illuminated mil dot scope)

[Spikeh]

it does not raise any flags with HMRC, etc, it is not SDC, because it's about accommodation, not work.

Good point, nicely made. Thanks

[tarbera]

Jesus, let the client pay for the hotel, no ir35 concerns, just your weirdness

[WTFH]

(which isn't much - 4 days initially, maybe 4 days extra every 3 months). They've said they want to pay for it directly because they have corporate rates to make it cheaper.
... I would rather live in a house than a hotel while I'm on site, and choose it myself.

It's only for a couple of days, as you say yourself. And it saves you the outlay/recompense.

If it's a hotel chain, then make sure you get a loyalty card. It's all about the points.

As for the rates, if they are a large company and have a corporate deal with a hotel chain then they will get considerably less than booking.com etc.
Past clients of mine have had global deals with the likes of Holiday Inn and Marriott. For HI the rate was 50% off the rack rate for a basic room. If the basic rooms were all taken, you got an executive room, but still at the full discount.

it does not raise any flags with HMRC, etc, it is not SDC, because it's about accommodation, not work.

[PerfectStorm]

You’ll be fine, I’d just take it and enjoy it!

[Spikeh]

If the air b+b is indeed cheaper and you volunteer the use of it, it should be fine.

However, it’s perfectly acceptable to use a client’s system to book hotels if it’s cheaper - that’s just good business for everyone.

If it was me and a client was insisting I take a hotel, I’d be packing my swimming costume.

Thanks

More concerned about it looking like control if I'm honest - I've never had a client willing to pay expenses before, so its all new to me. Don't want to fall down on a technicality when everything else seems perfect

Hotel isn't the end of the world I suppose, I'd just rather not!

[PerfectStorm]

If the air b+b is indeed cheaper and you volunteer the use of it, it should be fine.

However, it’s perfectly acceptable to use a client’s system to book hotels if it’s cheaper - that’s just good business for everyone.

If it was me and a client was insisting I take a hotel, I’d be packing my swimming costume.