DAY RATES


The first time a guest walked in and asked me for a "day rate', I admit I was stumped. We had more rates in this hotel than we did pillows and "day" wasn't one of them. Seniors, AAA members, government, military, bereavement. The list went on and on. Many of the regular companies who sent business to us had their own special rate worked out with our management which gave them their rooms at various discounts. And our rates were always changing. In-season, off-season, weekend, weekly, long-term, special events. The whole pricing structure would move up and down like the tide depending upon whether we were busy or not. The only group we did not seem to have a discount for was "Red-headed Step-children", however, if a few of them were interested in booking a block of rooms, the Sales Director could work something out in a jiffy.

The other desk clerk inserted himself, "Dave, can I get you to take this reservation?" He handed me the phone. It was a dial tone. As he proceeded to register the guest for a "Day Rate", he said, "Ok sir, our housekeeping leaves at three o'clock this afternoon and you will need to check out before two to get the room for half price." The man looked at his wrist watch, then glanced out the windows at his idling Buick under the canopy, with a hunched down passenger in it. It was a quarter to twelve. "No problem, I have to be back at work by one-thirty."

Ahhhhhh......day rate.