<p>Our son goes to an SEC school, and we’ve attended Parents Weekend for the past two years. First year, we were able to get a hotel room, at a rate of twice the usual rate. This year, hotel rooms were triple the normal rate, and nonrefundable! As both husband and I have elderly parents, we could not fork over 600 nonrefundable dollars for a hotel room for a weekend that we may have to cancel at the last minute due to health issues with our parents. Instead, this year, we stayed 45 minutes away, which turned into 2 hours with gameday traffic, at a regular rate, and refundable. We could live with it, as we realized we were getting what we paid for and felt the high rate was for the convenience of being near the college.</p>
<p>However, I’ve talked with a few parents this week who had just attended Parents Weekend at their child’s schools, one an SEC school, another, a big football school, though not in the SEC. They said they had no problems finding hotel rooms at reasonable rates.</p>
<p>So, I was curious. Is our college town gouging its patrons, or is this practice of overpriced, nonrefundable hotel rooms common among other schools across the nation, especially on gameday weekends?</p>
<p>We live in New Orleans, which charges exorbitant hotel rates during Mardi Gras and big football events, so I just figured it was standard operating procedure to charge higher prices for special events. But I’m curious if other college towns engage in this practice.</p>
<p>On game day weekends, a Holiday Inn Express standard room goes for $189.00 in my Big Ten college town. This is before tax. Non game day weekend, $108.00.</p>
<p>It’s supply and demand. It happens in college towns. And ski towns too. Years ago we paid $59/night for a simple Holiday Inn room in Vail in July… the posted winter rate was $279. Hotels maximize their profits wherever possible.</p>
<p>Stay further out - not right next door to the school… Worked for us, tho in general, some medium sized city chains may not have as good prices as more competitive large cities. I’ve stayed for $65 in Chicago suburbs many times, but in DD’s college, the cheapest (and not as good) was $80-85 in general, and not as good a hotel.</p>
<p>The one hotel in Oberlin, OH, routinely raises its prices during Parents Weekend and also on the weekends on which conservatory auditions are held.</p>
<p>yes, it seems to be normal. A couple of years back I went with a friend to her daughter’s school’s homecoming weekend. Grotty Hotels that were normally in the $50 - $60 range a night were up in the $200s. I can’t afford $200 a night hotels, and if I could I would at least want a decent one (you can imagine what a nice hotel cost). It would have been a good hours drive to the next nearest town. (Her daughter’s room mate was going to be gone so, at the daughter’s suggestion, we slept in her room, and she slept in the adjoining suite. Thought I was going to die climbing into that lofted bed that didn’t even have a ladder.)</p>
<p>Parent of another SEC univ student here. The difference in hotel rates depends on whether it is a home game weekend. If it is a home game, rates go up and two-night stays are mandatory. Parents’ Weekend tends to coincide with a home game, hence the issue raised by OP. This is clearly a supply/demand issue especially in smaller metropolitan areas (eg, in the SEC; Oxford, Tuscaloosa, etc).</p>
<p>Doesn’t just happen in smaller college towns. I came back to Providence for my 25th reunion and the hotel prices were 3x their usual rate, just for reunion/graduation weekend. I guess it’s really one of the only times all year that they have such high demand so they take advantage of the customers–but it was terrible because they didn’t have sufficient non-allergenic pillows, blankets, etc. Hotels closest to husband’s 25th reunion this Spring also have double-inflated prices, but it’s in a city that’s easier to get around so we have a little more selection.</p>
<p>We just went to a SEC parent’s weekend plus a home game day too. I made reservations in June at the only place where they were refundable - a dated (but clean) Hampton Inn. The rate was twice the normal rate and cost us $450 for two nights. Other hotels in town were about the same amount but they were not refundable.</p>
<p>Thankfully, the opposing team was not a big rival team. Hotel expenses might have been worse.</p>
<p>Try to find out if there is a hotel in the town where someone that you know often goes on business trips. A hotel that I used to work at had standard rates for corporate employees whose company routinely booked rooms and would actually bump higher paying customers just to keep the account. The companies you are looking for book rooms at least two or three times a month every month or book at least 10% of rooms for a few days at least once a quarter.</p>
<p>I have experienced this drastic price increase too. My Mom lived in a college town (rural) and though there were a lot of hotels in the area the college offered “home stays” at local residents’ homes. My Mom participated for years and met many interesting people. The money was donated to a cause and the host provided bed and breakfast. I assume some student organization on campus developed this program. I do not know if this is still operating but I think it was a win win.</p>
<p>Agree with all of the above. We stayed ~30 mins away from DD1’s school for graduation so we could get a refundable rate. The prices were definitely higher at that time.</p>
<p>We are Marriott Rewards members, at a pretty good level, too, but we have to wait for the rooms to open up for reservations. During the summer, I was calling every day to get a room for Parents Weekend, only to be told that they weren’t taking reservations yet. One day, the reservations were open, and they were only available at double rate, nonrefundable. I passed, as grandpa was in the hospital at the time. Even though I have stayed at this hotel probably ten times in the past year, I was still put at the back of the line. Funny thing is, this year, I actually got a phone call from reservations at the hotel. They asked if I was interested in booking rooms again this year during football season. I said yes, for Parents Weekend, and as long as it was refundable. This was late June, maybe. I was told that no, rates were nonrefundable, and were perhaps double rate at that point. As grandpa was in the hospital at the time, I politely declined. The Hilton Garden Inn, located next door, was offering triple rate rooms, but at least you could cancel within two weeks of your stay. I opted instead for the 45 minute away hotel, which was very nice, and has probably gotten our business now for Parents Weekend, and will be a go-to place for Graduation perhaps now, too.</p>
<p>Just wanted to mention that it is possible that you will luck out, going against the tide. When we went to Northeastern Parent Weekend in Boston last fall, our Thursday night rate was the most expensive. It actually came down for Fri/Sat nights, due to weekend deals in city hotel.</p>
<p>PS - We did like the Midtown Hotel. (I think $159 Parent Weekend - almost as cheap as possible in Boston. I think less other weekends). It was walking distance to Northeastern and a short T ride to others. Older, but clean with very large rooms.</p>
<p>Woo boy, you need to plan a good year in advance for the privilege of paying triple fees at a hotel in Cambridge during Commencement. The hotel will have a particular day when it releases those rooms, and parents need to be poised by the phone to book that morning.</p>
<p>^^^I think that’s what happened to us this year with Parents Weekend. Even though I called every day to see if the rooms were released, when they actually were released, they were already gone at the double rate. Only ones available were triple and nonrefundable.</p>
<p>Also, checked Baton Rouge rates for similar hotels, and was surprised to find they were double rate, with three day cancellation policy. Guess not all SEC schools gouge their followers. Of course, it is what the market will bear. LSU has more followers that will not spend the night, at least, not in a hotel room. I’ll refrain from further comment as my momma raised me to be a lady.</p>
<p>We are attending two commencements for May 2012. One is the U our kids attend & we have a minimum 3 night stay & double-rate non-refundable. The other is a nice suite hotel near in the same city near where nephew will graduate. Rates are low, no minimum & refundable! It’s a fraction of the rate we’re paying for the other hotel and near the outlet mall! D is pleased. :)</p>