Jim always brings the topic into crystal-clear clarity. It is about time-yours as well as the clients.
Can you imagine that for all of us going to WCAF this week, we had a conversation like this with the reservation clerk at the Hilton in Vegas:
You: Hi, I'd like to check room rates, please
Hilton: Absolutely. We have a wonderful 7 room suite on the top floor. It has a gorgeous view of the Strip, comes with a Jacuzzi, workout room, a personal valet...
You: Whoa, I don't think I want to spend that much...
Hilton: (under their breath to the operator next to them)It must be one of those cheapskates. To you: But, this room will provide the ultimate in hotel experience. Your complete satisfaction and comfort is the important thing we are talking about
You: Yes, but I'll bet that costs a lot more than I want to...
Hilton: We prefer you not look at what it costs, but what you get. And we provide only the finest in guest accomodations and it's only $2200 a night
You: But, I know that much more than I want to spend-it's just a room and all I'm going to do is sleep there...
Hilton:We see your stay as so much more than just sleeping in a room. We offer a total experience that can't be measured by money alone...
You: (Major frustration-kind of what you are experiencing reading this thread)Look-I just want a room, I don't want to spend a ton of money and if you can't take care of me, I'll just go elsewhere
Hilton

Thinking to themselves- It must be time for the Picture Framers convention again-And to think what they charge for what they do.) To you: We do have a $59 a night special for the convention for a deluxe room
You: Thanks, that will do fine (Thinking to your self:Why didn't they just tell me that first? Geez, next time I'll just book it on the internet)
Sometimes we want the suite; sometimes not. But we know what we want and no amount of talking was going to get us to get that suite. We simply didn't want to spend that much.
As a provider, Hilton knows that and probably has their operators trained to not waste a lot of time on people that don't want the full experience. It's why 90% of their rooms are designed to take care of 90% of the clientele at a rate 90% of their clientele is willing to pay.
But, they do offer a complete range of options to offer the widest possible range of clientele at profitable room rate structure.
They too have the $29 a night client and sometimes you just can't satisfy everyone.
But, bet the farm, they will put you into a room (at a profit) in a minimum amount of time.
Like Jim said, they don't waste your time or yours