Marriott and Best Western Hotels Should I Keep on Googling

I did a Google search to see what companies shop these two hotels, and the only company I came up with is one of the slow paying companies mentioned quite frequently on this forum. Should I keep on Googling or is this slow paying company all there is? I'd love to get some hotels in the Central Coast. It would make it financially feasible for us to visit my granddaughter at Cal Poly more often.

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Keep searching. Call, even. :-)

There are corporate and franchise locations for many big chains.

Does it have to be these two brands? Have you looked into TNS and their lodging shops? I love those.

Good luck.
Best Western is listed on the testimonials of an msc which has been frequently ripped on this site for chronic non payment. The msc is NOT Freeman either. Although the client is listed as a testimonial, not sure if they are currently shopped by this same chronic non payer...
For all the aggrevation and stress of trying to score a "free" 3-star hotel room, why not use Priceline's bidding feature instead?

I can routinely pick up a half price hotel room and the hotel adds it onto my frequent guest account.
No, Freeman wasn't the one I was referring to. I could check out Priceline, Missy, but free is my favorite price. ;0)
Most of the larger chain hotels may have a corporate shopping program, as well as an individual MSC contracted by the hotel management.

The larger corporate accounts are often handled by full-time employee shoppers, and those are the programs you would most likely find in a Google search. Like all of shops, the best way to know what's out there is to sign up for any and every MSC that handled hospitality assignments.

I don't see a lot of hotels posted for the area you ask about, but they do crop up occasionally. Trying to lock down a shop for a particular hotel on a particular date can be challenging, however.

If free is what you are looking for, I would suggest taking available hotels elsewhere to build frequent guest points. Three of four nights at a Ritz-Carlton on a shop will net you enough points for a free overnight at a 3-star Marriott. I recently attended a wedding in SLO and was able to get a free night there with points earned from just 2 shops at higher end cousins of the hotel I stayed at. It even came with a free breakfast. No report required smiling smiley
Many hotels are owned by a "group" that may own, say, a dozen Best Westerns. That group may contract with one MSC for their shops, while another group contracts with a different MSC for their shops. You will begin to notice when you register at an hotel that there is often a plaque on the wall, stating the name of the "group" that onws that particular franchise location.

So, Steve is right on the money with suggesting that hotel shoopers need to be signed up with just about every MSC around to find optimal hotel shops. AND, those hotel clients do change MSCs!

BTW, with the rewards-linked credit card and a big extra points promotion, I was able to turn a 2 night stay at the flagship Hilton in Manhattan into three free nights at a very nice mid-level sister hotel, with free parking, breakfast and wifi. So, be sure o get the rewards club AND the matching credit card to make the most of those free nights. (With no reports!)

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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