How to get discounts and corporate rates at hotels

If your company tends to rack up travel expenses, corporate hotel discounts are a great way to make a real dent in your lodging budget. Even modest discounts add up fast, especially when you’re booking multiple trips throughout the year.

You don’t have to be a Fortune 500 company to access solid savings. With the right tools and strategies, even small businesses can unlock hotel discounts. We’ll walk you through how corporate hotel rates work, how to negotiate better deals, and why Engine is the ultimate tool for making your travel dollars stretch.

How corporate rates work

Hotels, airlines, and rental car companies offer corporate rates to attract business from organizations that book travel frequently. In exchange for repeat bookings, these vendors offer discounted rates that help them stay competitive and fill rooms.

Corporate hotel rates are often tied to a company-specific booking code. These codes are entered when booking a room, with predetermined discounts applied based on the company’s expected booking volume. Larger businesses with higher travel frequency typically negotiate better rates, but even smaller companies can get in the game with the right approach.

6 ways businesses can lock in corporate hotel rates

Here are six smart ways to secure corporate rates—no massive travel budget required.

1. Negotiate directly with hotels

If your company frequently sends employees to a particular city or region, reach out to local hotels directly. Building a relationship with hotel managers can help you secure discounted rates in exchange for guaranteed volume.

2. Join a hotel loyalty program

Major hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, and IHG offer loyalty programs with perks for frequent stays, such as member-only rates, room upgrades, and late checkouts. Consider centralizing bookings through a single chain with a solid loyalty program.

3. Book through a corporate travel platform

Corporate travel platforms like Engine do the heavy lifting when finding and negotiating the best hotel rates. Perfect for small and mid-sized businesses, Engine crowdsources demand to access hotel rates usually reserved for large, enterprise-level companies.

4. Negotiate volume-based contracts

If your business knows it will book a certain number of nights per year, use that data to negotiate a volume-based deal. Hotels often offer better rates or perks if you can commit to a specific business level.

5. Use credit card travel perks

Some business credit cards offer hotel-related travel perks like discounted rates, automatic elite status, or access to exclusive hotel collections. You can stack these benefits with corporate discounts and loyalty program points (like Engine’s) for maximum value.

6. Book through a travel management company

Travel management companies (TMCs) often have access to preferred hotel rates and provide support with business travel policy compliance, reporting, and 24/7 assistance. That’s a bonus for any team—and yes, travel management is part of Engine’s suite of helpful corporate travel tools.

Expert tips to negotiate hotel corporate rates

A little negotiation can go a long way. These expert-backed tips will help you get more value from every stay.

Build long-term partnerships

Hotels love consistency. If you show that your company tends to book repeat stays over a certain period of time, you’re more likely to secure discounted rates. Establishing a long-term relationship with a hotel or chain can also open the door to added perks and custom teams.

Request added perks, not just discounts

Even if the room rate discount is modest, you can ask for perks like free parking, breakfast, Wi-Fi, or meeting room access. These extras can lead to significant savings over time while improving your team's travel experience.

Compare multiple hotels

Don’t settle for the first offer—contact several hotels in your target city to compare rates, perks, and cancellation policies. Let them know you’re evaluating competitors to encourage them to sweeten the deal.

Align with your business travel policies

Make sure your negotiated rates comply with your company’s travel policies, approval processes, and per diem limits. Clear guidelines will help ensure employees consistently book through preferred hotels and maximize available discounts.

Get corporate hotel rates and discounts with Engine

Engine helps business travelers access deeply discounted hotel rates—often up to 60% off standard prices—by pooling demand across thousands of small and medium-sized businesses.

Instead of negotiating on your own or relying on public rates, Engine uses its scale to get you exclusive access to corporate hotel rates usually reserved for large enterprises. And it’s not just about the rates—Engine also offers the HE Rewards program, letting you earn hotel loyalty points and Engine points on the same stay.

From global hotel chains to boutique accommodations, Engine’s platform gives you access to more options, better prices, and streamlined booking—all while supporting your company’s travel budget and policies. 

Ready to cut business travel costs? Explore Engine’s corporate travel rates and start booking smarter today. 

FAQs

What types of businesses qualify for corporate hotel discounts?

Corporate hotel rates aren’t just for large enterprises. Many hotel chains extend discounted rates to startups, nonprofits, and small businesses, especially if they show consistent travel patterns. If your company sends employees on business travel even semi-regularly, you may qualify for lower hotel rates. 

Some hotels also accept industry-specific discount codes or allow smaller businesses to book under a broader corporate travel umbrella. Working with a corporate travel platform like Engine can help ensure your hotel bookings are recognized as part of an eligible group, unlocking access to preferred rates and added amenities.

Can corporate rates be used for group business travel or events?

Yes—corporate hotel discounts often apply to group bookings, making them ideal for business conferences, offsites, or training sessions. Many hotel chains offer additional perks, like complimentary meeting rooms or upgraded accommodations, when you book a block of rooms under a corporate agreement. Some hotels even have event-specific corporate travel policies or codes that cater to these needs. 

To maximize cost savings, consider negotiating directly or using a travel management platform like Engine that coordinates group hotel bookings with discounted rates and streamlined planning.

How do corporate travel platforms compare to booking directly with hotels?

Booking directly with a hotel can be helpful for one-off stays or if you have a long-term relationship with that property. But for broader savings across many destinations, a corporate travel platform offers more flexibility and reach. 

Platforms like Engine negotiate discounted hotel rates by aggregating demand from multiple business travelers, which often means better prices than a single company can secure alone. They also support business travel policies, track travel expenses, and offer integrated rewards programs—features that direct bookings usually lack.

Do hotel corporate rates include extra amenities?

Beyond lower hotel rates, corporate discounts may include added amenities like free Wi-Fi, breakfast, late checkout, or room upgrades—especially when negotiated as part of a preferred hotel agreement. 

These extras help business travelers feel more comfortable, and they often lead to better travel budgets overall. When comparing options, don’t just look at the nightly rate; consider the full value of what’s included in the corporate package to find the best hotel for your needs.