Ringman

Oh, fantastic Will!! I've been fretting over messing with the rental car... the hassles of driving downtown everyday (for my wife, that is...) and finding parking.. or worse... paying for it, everyday at the Convention Center.... So far I was scheming to have them use the "tour" trolley for a couple of days- maybe a rental for a couple etc... And yes theruare, the dates were set... these national gym meets tend to fill 2 or three hotels of excess space, but I've always managed to find 3 or 4*'s on PL.... this Hilton is the worst I've gotten, from a logistical point of view..... but, of course for the money saved.....!!! One point on large groups setting aside rooms though- I believe I've noticed the trend in my practise bids in various cities- When the last date arrives for the group to reserve rooms, and they have not filled the block that was set aside (quite likely to happen in the case of a tournament, or competition like these, where nobody is guaranteed a spot until they qualify, sometimes only a week or two before the meets)- at that point rooms come back into the PL systerm, and I believe :) ? at lower prices than previously available......

Your Offer Price: $41.00 (+ $50 bonus money!) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 6 Subtotal: $246.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $36.87 Total Charges: $282.87 5/04 - 5/10/2004 I actually got this in July 2003-- probably not the best place to park my money for 10 months... but it does indicate that bidding early might actually yield lower accepted offers (well,, maybe ridiculously early!!) As usual, I was just playing with what I thought were prices at least $10-$20 lower than would be accepted... and surprise!!! I got it. No harm done- my wife and son will both be there for a gymnastics meet- and those dates rarely change from the original "tentative" schedules!! Still hate that PL is including Harbor Island in the Downtown zone-- 2-3 years ago they stayed at the Wyndham Emerald Plaza for the same meet- through PL of course..... :)

This is where their Pricing Modeling software kicks in..... They have sufficient data on most locations, or can apply the data from other areas, to create a Model that identifies the likely pricepoints to be bid, perhaps with respect to time before travel (i.e. - 5 months vs 2 weeks). If they don't use intelligent forecasting... with all the data at their fingertips.... well than maybe the should be offering me a job right about now...!! As to which property they assign the $100 bid- Mathematical calculations are not affected by fractious price points- the Model should identify the pricepoint to use. On the other hand, as we all know, the politics of salesmanship makes the world go 'round--- For instance, a new property(PL customer, that is) might actually either sell faster or more profitably for the property, depending upon what PL sales managers have promoted to their clients!! (by the way, I work for peanuts and free travel!!)

But you see, the beauty of it all is that everyone is getting the Mercedes, and if they bid high- they'll still be happy with their $100 room, even though someone may get the same room another time for $41 ....

Now wait... if Priceline has a hotel like the above, and 6 months before the date of travel, they receive a bid of say, $100- wouldn't the prudent thing be to fill that room with the $55 or even $75 rate- They would thereby clear one of those rate levels (in this simple example - assuming one room per rate level) at an early date and maximize profit with the hotel still having the ability to adjust PL rates again and again as the travel date approaches. Assuming also that PL is not an idiot with open books to its customers.... they simply report to the hotel that the $55 or $75 room is gone (according to what their market research tells them is the optimal price point to erase) and than await more bids and potential for the hotel to lower its rates as the date in question approaches to clear the room. hmmm?? :)

Just foolin around-- was loosely aiming for Wyndham Emerald Plaza which we stayed at last year thru PL--$50 bonus money got us into this- a little far from downtown- but c'est la vie..... maybe i'll get another room closer to the meet date.. and let the boyz stay in town!! Congratulations, you got your price of $41 for a 3-star hotel room. Hilton San Diego Airport Harbor Island Check-In Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2004 Check-Out Date: Monday, May 10, 2004 Downtown San Diego & Harbor Island 1960 Harbor Island Drive San Diego, California 92101-1097 Check-In Date: Tue, May 4, 2004 Check-Out Date: Mon, May 10, 2004 Your Offer Price: $41.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 6 Subtotal: $246.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $36.87 Total Charges: $282.87 Again- note that $50 bonus money was thrown in by PL-- :)

Darn!! :) I tried using the code.. but a disclaimer came up above the fares saying it didn't apply to "fully refundable fares" or "special fares".... isn't that everything?? At least is was on my choices.... (was sending my son July 2 to St. Louis)-- but maybe its just because the flight was only a week away??

Just finished my last night of a one week stay in Milwaukee at the Hyatt (the other 5 nights were at the Hilton City Center)- I'd be interested to hear if they give you credit for any stays purchased through PL.. Hyatt in St. Louis rejected me for the program they had going last summer.. I don't think I even inquired at Hyatt... having given up all hope!!! Hilton said no-can-do on the 4 PL nights I was there.... By the way.. Hyatt was nice.. with the added touch of a fake Starbucks in the lobby- although there's a real one just across the river from it (2 blocks at most) opening up this week (the ONLY starbucks in downtown Milwaukee!!) and in case anybody's keeping tabs... my son got 2nd on Pommel, 3rd on Floor and 6th overall at the National Gymnastics Championships!! Yeah!!!! :)

There was an article in the Wall street Journal last week (Thursday??)- about Starwood and all their properties having different computer systems... One guy's job is just to chase down "lost" deposits... What a mess!!! :)

I hate to sound like a simpleton.... but twice in the past year I've found cheaper rates, and better itineraries through Cheaptickets.com, than through Orbitz or the airlines websites.. American last year, and Delta this month. Of course, given the option, I'll stick with the cattle cars of Southwest Airlines!! :)

Hotel Name: Hyatt Regency Milwaukee 333 West Kilbourne Ave Milwaukee, WI 53203 Zone: Downtown Milwaukee Your Offer Price: $45 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $45.00 Taxes $5.84 (14.6 tax rate indicates that PL paid **$40 ** for this room) :) Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Lodging Charges: $56.79 Sunday June 22 (1 nights) Actually, I needed Tuesday thru Sunday night- but couldn't get the full 6 days due to sold out condition on Saturday night-- So I broke it up - a tactic I used recently in Savannah (see post) - Tues- Friday night- I got The Hilton at the same $45- so I thought the same bid for Sunday night would yield the Hilton again-- Oh well, the Hyatt is attached to the Midwest Express Center too (where we're attending the some of the gym. meet)-- so all is well. I bit the bullet and paid $125 for Saturday night at the Hilton- thru the gymnastic group- Both PL and hotel websites showed Hilton and Hyatt sold-out for now(PL by virtue of "help-FAQ-extend your stay" option, which interestingly states +/- that "due to sold out condition at the Hilton/Hyatt, they could not secure a room", instead of the "could not find... willing to accept your measily low bid...." response) Still- $350 +taxes and processing is better than the $750 from the "group sales" of the gymnastic organization for the six nights!! :o Not to mention doubling the actual tax dollars @ full price @14.6% !! $350 + 51.10(tax) + 11.90 (two process fee) =$413.05 vs $750 + 109.5 = $859.50 savings = $446.45 over what a bunch of parents will be paying that week!! :) Holy moley batman- if I wasn't such a cheapskate... I'd buy the winner of the meet a fancy dinner!!! (hope its my son-- he'd accept pizza) :)

Hotel Name: Hilton Milwaukee City Center 509 W Wisconsin Ave Milwaukee, WI 53203 Zone: Downtown Milwaukee Your Offer Price: $45 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 4 Subtotal: $180.00 Taxes $26.28 (14.6 tax rate indicates that PL paid ** :) ** $45 for this room) Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Lodging Charges: $212.35 Tuesday June 17, 18,19,20th (4 nights) Actually, I needed Tuesday thru Sunday night- but couldn't get the full 6 days due to sold out condition on Saturday night-- So I broke it up - a tactic I used recently in Savannah (see post) - :) Still looking for a Saturday-Sunday night hotel... all three 3* in Milwaukee "officially sold out" on Saturday- (I can still get it @ $125 with our gymnastic group..)

Just to let you know--- My wife and son checked into the Westin-- they loved it by the way - but, due to a large convention on Thursday the 8th- there were no cancellations.... (zero- none- nada- zippo!) Fortunately, my good- natured wife took it in stride and walked over to the closest available hotel under $150- ended up being a HOJO's!!! (by the way- listed at $95 online- couldn't get anythin same day on PL- and with her natural charm and influence.. she got it at $65--- of course the coupon on the check-in counter helped!) Early... Early... Friday morning, they checked out of HOJO's and spent the morning and early afternoon at the Westin pool... before checking in again for Friday Saturday(tonight) and Sunday. The moral of the story is..... If you're easy going and keep a sense of humor-- you can break up you're PL stays and still come out ok (or in my case... stay blissfully married!!) Dodged that bullet so well, I'm using the same tactic at the next gymnastic meet in Milwaukee (see post for Hilton there!) :)

I've seen Westin Savannah on Hotwire- (a resort- the only one in Savannah- so it's ez to spot!) But, of course, Hotwire was asking $101 -$108- while on PL it could be had for $85 (I actually paid $85, 86, and $94 for those rooms this week on PL) :)

Hotel Name: Westin Savannah Harbor Resort 1 Resort Drive Savannah, Georgia 31402 Zone: Savannah Historic District Your Offer Price: $85 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $85.00 Taxes: $10.20(12% tax rate indicates that PL paid $85 for this room) Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Lodging Charges: $101.15 Sunday May 11 (1 nights) ** Additional Resort fee to be charged is $12.95 per night (includes unilimited water taxi and free self parking) Okay... I have officially found Westins "honey spot".... (note previous posts @ $86 and $94)-- It appears that PL's cost for this W is the same on any given night--- I now have Tuesday thru the following Sunday night (on 3 seperate bids)-- except Thursday night!!! (*&$*&@#$(^% GRR..!) ** Any idea on getting the missing night??-- I figured maybe cancellations required 3 days in advance might open something up?? Does PL get ahold of cancellations>?? or does the hotel just eat them.. or hope for a late booking... considering they're solc out (less the cancellations....)?? :)

* please note this was last year (2002) Hotel Name: Hyatt Regency St Louis One St.Louis Union Station St Louis MO 63103 Zone: Downtown St Louis Your Offer Price: $58 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $58.00 Taxes:$ 6.24(14.86% tax rate indicates that PL paid $41.99 for this room) Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Lodging Charges: $70.19 Saturday May 18 2002 (1 night) Great Lobby and facade- attached to Union station (actually is Union Station) shopping area. Rooms are nice-

**please note- this was last year (2002) Hotel Name: Westin Oklahoma City One North Broadway Oklahoma City OK 73102 Zone: Oklahoma City Your Offer Price: $45 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $45.00 Taxes: $3.84(10.38% tax rate indicates that PL paid $36.99 for this room) Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Lodging Charges: $54.79 Friday April 8th 2002 (1 night) Prom night (oh no!!)-- "fortunately"- we had a very very loud fan on the air conditioning (actually located in the ceiling between the hallway door and the beds- )so my son slept fine for gymnastics meet the next day!! Found out later-- Westin billed me on my credit card for the room also (what a hassle!!)-

*please note- this was last year (2002) Hotel Name: Wyndahm Cleveland Hotel 1250 Euclid Cleveland Oh 44115 Zone: Cleveland Downtown Your Offer Price: $48 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 6 Subtotal: $288.00 Taxes: $37.98(14.5% tax rate indicates that PL paid $43.65 for this room) Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Lodging Charges: $331.93 Monday August 5th thru Saturday August 11,2002 (6 nights) I put this bid in on a lark- on May 8, 2002- and they accepted it!!! I Signed up for the Wyndham by Request and was treated admirably during my stay (including wine and cheese in my room upon arrival)- but I've read elsewhere that Wyndham no longer honors WbR for PL stays..

Hotel Name: Westin Savannah Harbor Resort 1 Resort Drive Savannah, Georgia 31402 Zone: Savannah Historic District Your Offer Price: $94 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $188.00 Taxes: $20.40 (12% tax rate indicates that PL paid $85 for this room) Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Lodging Charges: $214.35 Friday May 9, Saturday May 10 (2 nights) ** Additional Resort fee to be charged is $12.95 per night (includes unilimited water taxi and free self parking) Actually, I needed Tuesday thru Sunday night- but couldn't get the full 6 days due to sold out condition on Thursday-- So I broke it up 2 nights at a time- Still looking for a Thursday night hotel... The Westin is across the River from the main Historic District- but the gymnastics meet we're attending is at the next door Convention Center.. so this seemed like an okie-dokie idea. * By the way- these rates were accepted only after multiple biddings - Only Resort in Savannah though....

Hotel Name: Westin Savannah Harbor Resort 1 Resort Drive Savannah, Georgia 31402 Zone: Savannah Historic District Your Offer Price: $86 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $172.00 Taxes: $20.40 (12% tax rate indicates that PL paid $85 for this room) Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Lodging Charges: $198.35 Tuesday May 6, Wednesday May 7 (2 nights) ** Additional Resort fee to be charged is $12.95 per night (includes unilimited water taxi and free self parking) Actually, I needed Tuesday thru Sunday night- but couldn't get the full 6 days due to sold out condition on Thursday-- So I broke it up 2 nights at a time- Still looking for a Thursday night hotel... The Westin is across the River from the main Historic District- but the gymnastics meet we're attending is at the next door Convention Center.. so this seemed like an okie-dokie idea. (see next post for Fri-Sat night @ $94)