Interesting. I rarely have a reservation when driving on a multi day trip. Instead, I use the fact that it's already late as leverage to get a lower rate. I'm about 50/50 on getting that to work. I'm not the best sales person, so I bet someone who is more persistent would be more successful. I have the best luck when the hotel clerk is younger.
I tend to drive mostly in the western US, specifically Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, the Dakotas, or Nebraska. Where are you trying it?
Fade rates, or manager's rates, are becoming a problem. Some big online booking schemes require "best available rates" be given to online bookings. Ad-hoc discounts to late night walk-ins are thought a violation of that agreement unless they are also made available to the online scheme. A manager's ability to turn away horrible bookings is also undermined. That group of drunken fratboys have now booked through a smartphone app. Try to pull the "we are overbooked" routine with them and you will be downrated very quickly, likely triggering action from your chain.
A while back I read a fun article about how online booking contracts were "unchristian". The christmas story sees a hotel manager make available a sub-standard room at a discount rate to a desperate walk-in family. Do that today and travelocity will be on your back about not publishing that "best rate" online.
> A manager's ability to turn away horrible bookings is also undermined. That group of drunken fratboys have now booked through a smartphone app. Try to pull the "we are overbooked" routine with them and you will be downrated very quickly, likely triggering action from your chain.
Why not go with "we don't want you here", instead of something they know is a lie?
As if that would not lead to bad feedback and a potential PR nightmare... if you accept someones booking and then don't let them in when they arrive there is (rightfully) going to be trouble, regardless of the reason you give. (outside of very exceptional circumstances)
I tend to drive mostly in the western US, specifically Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, the Dakotas, or Nebraska. Where are you trying it?