Booking a hotel with a major pricing error?

[v]

I am trying to book a hotel room for a conference I'll be going to.  Preferred conference rate for a normal king bed room is $159 a night.  But when I go to the link to the hotel booking site that is provided for by the conference, I see three rates: a massive suite for a $1.00 a night, a normal room with a king bed for $159, or a room with two queen beds for $179.

My company is paying so I won't be paying out of pocket, but hey -- who wouldn't want a suite?

I should book a regular room at the $159 rate instead of trying to take advantage of the very, very obvious pricing error on the $1 suite, right?  

[ETA in case it is relevant: this is a casino hotel so they probably do hand out free suites frequently to people who are not at all like me]

[rikki]

It more than likely will not be honored. While the DOT has policies to enforce mistake airfare, nothing like that exists for hotels. There are thousands of Flyertalk posts of people complaining that their rates were changed to the correct rate, sometimes after checking out. I'd just get the regular room.

[LoveTrains]

Yes, get the room because its an obvious error and they will probably correct it when you check in.

[v]

Mar 2, 2015 19:05:07 GMT -5 rikki said:

It more than likely will not be honored. While the DOT has policies to enforce mistake airfare, nothing like that exists for hotels. There are thousands of Flyertalk posts of people complaining that their rates were changed to the correct rate, sometimes after checking out. I'd just get the regular room.

I guess here's part two to the question then: say they don't catch their error until I check in.  Can I say "then put me in the regular room at the regular conference rate?"

My company will pay either way so it isn't like I'd be in the position that I'm SOL if they end up charging me the regular rate.  A regular-sized bill is fine.  But a suite would be really nice

I added this above, but this is a casino hotel -- I wonder if they'll just think that I was comped?  Or maybe not?  I don't know if that changes things.

[raangoli]

I'd just book a regular room - even though the temptation is there. Unless you don't think they will be booked and if they recognize their pricing error and can move you into a regular room/rate.

[LoveTrains]

Mar 2, 2015 19:14:29 GMT -5 v said:

Mar 2, 2015 19:05:07 GMT -5 rikki said:

It more than likely will not be honored. While the DOT has policies to enforce mistake airfare, nothing like that exists for hotels. There are thousands of Flyertalk posts of people complaining that their rates were changed to the correct rate, sometimes after checking out. I'd just get the regular room.

I guess here's part two to the question then: say they don't catch their error until I check in.  Can I say "then put me in the regular room at the regular conference rate?"

My company will pay either way so it isn't like I'd be in the position that I'm SOL if they end up charging me the regular rate.  A regular-sized bill is fine.  But a suite would be really nice

I added this above, but this is a casino hotel -- I wonder if they'll just think that I was comped?  Or maybe not?  I don't know if that changes things.

The conference rate might be sold out and unavailable by that point, though. 

[rikki]

Mar 2, 2015 19:14:29 GMT -5 v said:

Mar 2, 2015 19:05:07 GMT -5 rikki said:

It more than likely will not be honored. While the DOT has policies to enforce mistake airfare, nothing like that exists for hotels. There are thousands of Flyertalk posts of people complaining that their rates were changed to the correct rate, sometimes after checking out. I'd just get the regular room.

I guess here's part two to the question then: say they don't catch their error until I check in.  Can I say "then put me in the regular room at the regular conference rate?"

My company will pay either way so it isn't like I'd be in the position that I'm SOL if they end up charging me the regular rate.  A regular-sized bill is fine.  But a suite would be really nice

I added this above, but this is a casino hotel -- I wonder if they'll just think that I was comped?  Or maybe not?  I don't know if that changes things.

Maybe, but they might charge you the rack rate at checkin.  Also, it seems like from the threads I read (although it has been a while), that they usually fix it before checkin.  Also, is it prepaid?  If so, they will probably re-charge you the actual price and then it would be hard to get it back/fight.  I am not sure it is worth the headache, but you could certainly try and gamble it (no pun intended). 

[v]

Okay, okay -- clearer heads prevail.

I will be whining to you guys, though, when I have to drive hours to go to/from what may very well be the most boring conference ever and then the day after the conference have to get on a redeye to London. A suite would make that much more palatable