Abstract
Ever-growing access to information represents a disruptive influence on many traditional industries. With an increase in access to a wide range of distribution channels, consumers experience greater pricing transparency than at any time in the past. At the same time, expansion of revenue management systems within the hospitality industry has led to a proliferation of rates and increased frequency of rate adjustment as property managers seek to optimize the match between prices offered and willingness to pay of each individual customer in a highly competitive market. Increased pricing disparities across distribution channels has shaped the opinions of consumers, who have responded by engaging in higher levels of search behavior in an effort to secure better deals, and a decrease in perceived pricing fairness (Gazzoli et al. 2008). Through promoting greater search effort on the part of customers, hoteliers effectively increase their competitor set, cutting into potential margins. Major hotel chains have responded through adoption of “Best Rate Guarantee” (BRG) policies and “Look No Further” lowest rate marketing messages, offering to match lower prices for identical rooms. Generally, these offers include an additional incentive in an effort to reassure customers that booking directly will always result in the lowest prices. The current study examines differences between the pricing strategies selected by different hotel chains. Specifically, frequency of BRG compliance compared to the magnitude of self-imposed penalties for violations.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Brynjolfsson E, Smith MD (2000) Frictionless commerce? A comparison of internet and conventional retailers. Manag Sci 46(4):563–585
Carvell SA, Quan DC (2008) Exotic reservations – low-price guarantees. Int J Hosp Manag 27:162–169
Demircifti T, Cobanoglu C, Beldona S, Cummings PR (2010) Room rate parity analysis across different hotel distribution channels in the U.S. J Hosp Mark Manag 19(4):295–308
Gazzoli G, Kim WG, Palakurthi R (2008) Online distribution strategies and competition: are the global hotel companies getting it right? Int J Contemp Hosp Manag 20(4):375–387
Jiang P (2002) A model of price search behavior in electronic marketplace. Internet Res 12(2):181–190
MKG Analysis (2013) World ranking 2013 of hotel groups and brands. Retrieved from hospitality on: http://hospitality-on.com/en/news/2013/04/04/exclusive-mkg-hospitality-world-ranking-2013-of-hotel-groups-and-brands/
Srivastava J, Lurie N (2001) A consumer perspective on price‐matching refund policies: effect on price perceptions and search behavior. J Consum Res 28(2):296–307
Toh RS, Raven P, DeKay F (2011) Selling rooms: hotels vs. third-party websites. Cornell Hosp Q 52(2):181–189
United States Census Bureau (2013) Annual estimates of the population of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metra/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-01.csv
Varian HR (1980) A model of sales. Am Econ Rev 70:651–659
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Academy of Marketing Science
About this paper
Cite this paper
Baker, B. (2016). Strategic Trade-offs in Hotel Best Rate Guarantees. In: Obal, M., Krey, N., Bushardt, C. (eds) Let’s Get Engaged! Crossing the Threshold of Marketing’s Engagement Era. Developments in Marketing Science: Proceedings of the Academy of Marketing Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11815-4_220
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11815-4_220
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-11814-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-11815-4
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)