Sabre Survey Shows Most Buyers Do Not Audit Room Rates

Sabre Travel Network yesterday gave attendees of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives Global Conference in Vancouver, B.C., the first look at a new hotel rate loading survey that showed almost three-quarters of buyers still do not audit hotel rates loaded into global distribution systems on an ongoing basis, despite their repeated expressions of concern.

Based on responses gathered earlier this year from approximately 300 buyers representing a range of industries and program sizes, Sabre found 70 percent either did not formally audit rates or audited them only once, typically in January or February in the weeks immediately after buyers complete their annual programs. By contrast, 20 percent of buyers said they audit quarterly. Only 10 percent reported auditing rates throughout the year.

"Many buyers who don't audit formally conduct spot checks and then expect agents to follow up on issues as they arise," said Sabre hotel program consultant Laura Thompson. However, rate loading has grown even more complicated as room availability has become more of an issue in key cities, with negotiated rates dropping out of the GDS as non-last-room-availability levels are reached. In addition, rate loading inaccuracies take the form of incorrect rates and rates that are not authorized by buyers to be in the system.