The Canadian Forces is no longer considered government.

[CF Member]

Hi all,

I just checked into the Sheraton Gateway hotel in Toronto.  I presented my Reg Force ID as usual but it was rejected?  Mr. Yang informed my that Sheraton Hotels have changed their policy and the Canadian Forces was no longer being awarded the government rate, and only people that worked for the Ministry qualified.

I am Emailing Sheraton to confirm Mr. Yang's new information.  Does anybody know if other hotel chains are following suit?

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/Sheraton/support/console/email.html

 

[Rheostatic]

By the time you're checking in, your bargaining power is long gone. The time to ask about rates and discounts is before you make a reservation.

Sheraton, of course, is free to offer rates as they please.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

I just checked the Toronto Sherrington Hotel online and they had discounts for Federal, Provincial, Military as well as US military

 

[kratz]

I just checked the site as well and the rates clearly indicate a military rate.

 

[Occam]

The Sheraton Gateway hotel in Toronto is not on the list of establishments meeting the rate limit for Toronto Airport area as per the PWGSC Accommodation and Car Rental Directory.

 

[AC 011]

I haven't stayed at a Sheraton recently, but I can confirm the CF qualifies for the government rate at Marriott hotels.  Used it a little over a week ago.  They do include a "subject to availability" disclaimer, but (knock wood) I have never had that happen.

 

[cupper]

He could be on to something here.

It could be that the Government has had enough dealing with the issues that keep popping up in the press about Generals and ministers flying on the public dime, expanding costs of new equipment, soldiers losing money on house sales when posted, and so on that they've decided to cut their losses and turn DND loose to fend for itself. :Tin-Foil-Hat:



Or, alternatively, someone screwed up at the hotel. ;D

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Or, alternatively, someone screwed up at the hotel. ;D

I would go with that one.

 

[Shamrock]

The Sheraton Gateway hotel in Toronto is not on the list of establishments meeting the rate limit for Toronto Airport area as per the PWGSC Accommodation and Car Rental Directory.

This doesn't preclude the member from staying there and receiving partial (or full) reimbursement if it is with duty travel.

 

[Towards_the_gap]

Did anyone even order a trip ticket for the Outrage bus?

 

[Occam]

This doesn't preclude the member from staying there and receiving partial (or full) reimbursement if it is with duty travel.

I agree, but only those listed in the directory have agreed to provide accommodations at a reduced rate for government travel.  Those in the directory may have limited numbers of rooms at the government rate on a given day, and those not in the directory may offer a discount for government travel - but it's not a negotiated rate like what's published in the directory.  The Sheraton Gateway, since it isn't listed in the directory, can offer a government rate, but they aren't obligated to do so under any kind of an agreement.  Those listed in the directory have agreed to honour the government rate published in the directory on a space/availability basis.

 

[the 48th regulator]

This doesn't preclude the member from staying there and receiving partial (or full) reimbursement if it is with duty travel.

Sure it does, they are a private business with no onus to provide anyone with a discount.  Especially if they lost out on DNDs preference list. I would charge double if I was them!

 

[Shamrock]

Sure it does, they are a private business with no onus to provide anyone with a discount.  Especially if they lost out on DNDs preference list. I would charge double if I was them!

That has nothing to do with the member's ability to claim the lodging.

 

[FJAG]

Sure it does, they are a private business with no onus to provide anyone with a discount.  Especially if they lost out on DNDs preference list. I would charge double if I was them!

You are right they are in a private business so they need to stay competitive. Virtually every hotel offers a government discount so the Sheraton chain does as well.
I've just checked the website for this specific hotel and it offers a discount for the military. Their standard rate for a Traditional King room is $269; for CAA or seniors $260; and for government and active military the rate is $149 which is a substantial saving.
Hotels rarely fill all their rooms every night and an empty room makes no profit for them. Even at $149 that hotel would have probably earned $125 for your stay (the difference is the turn around costs). By not giving you the room at the discounted rate they either a) lost money unecessarily if you chose to stay elsewhere or b) rooked you out of $120 if you did stay there.
My guess, assuming you showed them an active military id, is that someone at the front desk didn't do their job right.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

As I recall the RCA is a mercenary outfit technically on loan to the military, so the rates may not apply to artillery types.  :stirpot:

 

[ModlrMike]

Sure it does, they are a private business with no onus to provide anyone with a discount.

They are a private business, but they're a despicably dishonest one if they advertise one price on line and then charge you a greater one at check in. As of this morning their website still shows a military price, the local manager's claims notwithstanding.

 

[DAA]

Hotels listed in the PWGSC Hotel Directory have a Standing Offer and they are obligated to provide the rate shown within the confines of the SOA.    If they don't and you booked on your own, then it is between you and your Claims Section to seek a refund.

If you select a Hotel that is not listed, then the "City Rate Limit" comes into effect and for the Toronto (Airport) area it is capped at $119.00 per night.

Hotels can charge you what ever they want and call it a "Government Employee Discounted Rate", "Military Rate", etc but in the end, it's nothing more than advertising to get your business.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

If the local area is seeing a shortage of hotel rooms, they might not want to take people at a discount, when they can fill them with full paying customer, regardless of what the chain says.