How to save money on hotels: 6 tips for business travelers

It doesn’t take long for costs to rack up on a business trip. Between last-minute bookings, reservation changes, and meetings scheduled during peak travel seasons, good options for budget-minded business travelers are sometimes few and far between. 

But saving money on hotels doesn’t have to mean settling for fewer amenities. With the right approach, you can find a great room, stay within budget, and make travel less stressful. 

Here’s how to save money on hotels for your next business trip. 

1. Book early (and flexibly)

Hotel rates usually rise as your travel dates get closer. Booking early improves your chances of locking in lower prices and gives you a wider selection of hotel rooms and amenities. 

If your schedule isn’t set in stone, choose an option with a flexible hotel rate. Many online travel agencies and platforms offer features that allow you to cancel or modify your hotel booking with no penalties—like Engine’s Flex coverage, which lets you change dates or cancel without any fees. 

Say you reserve a four-night stay in Chicago for a conference, but your meetings wrap up early. With a flexible booking, you can check out after two nights without getting penalized for the unused portion of your reservation.

2. Join hotel loyalty programs

Most hotel chains offer free rewards programs—think of them as frequent flier programs for hotel stays. Every time you stay at a participating property, you earn points. Signing up unlocks perks like lower rates or early check-in, even if you only travel once or twice a year.

Sticking with one hotel chain helps your points add up faster, which can lead to upgrades or free nights. Some loyalty programs also offer business versions so teams can pool points for future travel or group reservations. 

Here are a few major programs to consider:

• Hilton: Hilton Honors lets you earn points for every stay and enjoy perks like room upgrades and discounted rates.
• Marriott: Marriott Bonvoy covers many hotels worldwide and enables members to redeem points for free stays or gift cards.
• IHG: IHG One Rewards includes brands like Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, offering member rates and reward nights.
• Hyatt: World of Hyatt gives elite members free nights, suite upgrades, and waived resort fees.
• Wyndham: Wyndham Rewards uses a simple points system that allows you to redeem rewards after just one stay.

If you prefer boutique or independent hotels, check out programs like Stash Hotel Rewards, which rewards you with points for stays at non-chain properties across the U.S. If you book your stay with Engine, you can even double up, earning hotel loyalty points and Engine travel rewards at the same time.

3. Compare prices and check for deals—but be sure to read the fine print

Not all hotel deals are created equal, so compare prices—and make sure you’re looking at the total after fees. One booking site may show a lower base rate but tack on surprise fees later, making it more expensive than competitors. And although many budget travel sites promise special rates, booking directly with the hotel sometimes unlocks even better prices. 

If you’re booking a hotel in Dallas, for example, you might see a rate of $165 per night on the hotel’s website, while the same room is going for $150 on a third-party platform—but the platform is sweetening the deal with free breakfast. As long as you’re booking with a reputable site, using a third party could save you a lot of money over the course of a three-night stay.

Here are a few other savings opportunities to look for:

• Membership discounts: You might qualify for lower rates if you belong to AAA, AARP, a professional organization, or a union.
• Mobile-only rates: You can sometimes find exclusive pricing when booking through an app.
• Price alerts: Using tools like Google Hotels or travel apps to track prices allows you to get notified as soon as rates drop.

Deals also pop up on daily deal sites like Groupon or Travelzoo. You might not find major hotel chains, but you can save on unique properties, especially for shorter business trips. But no matter where you book, be sure to factor in taxes, fees, and cancellation policies when comparing the final price.

4. Be flexible with dates and location

If your travel schedule isn’t fixed, flexibility can lead to significant savings. Hotel prices fluctuate daily, and midweek stays (like Tuesday to Thursday) are often cheaper than weekends. Staying outside a city center is another good way to save money without sacrificing convenience or comfort.

Try adjusting your travel dates by a day or two to see if prices drop. If that’s not an option, you can also save money by:

• Booking during the off-season
• Choosing properties that include valuable perks like a complimentary breakfast, free high-speed Wi-Fi, or shuttles to and from the airport
• Staying slightly outside major downtown areas

Platforms like Engine offer flexible date options, allowing you to compare prices and choose the best fit for your budget.

5. Take advantage of credit card rewards 

Many business credit cards offer hotel rewards, free nights, or cash back. Some chains also have their own hotel credit card, like the Wyndham Rewards Earner card, with perks like free nights, booking discounts, merchandise, or gift cards. 

By earning travel rewards on routine trips, you can accumulate enough points for a free hotel stay at a conference or event you might otherwise skip due to cost. 

With Engine, you can even stack loyalty benefits, earning Engine points, hotel points, and credit card rewards, all for the same trip.

6. Use one platform for all your bookings

It’s easy to overpay when juggling bookings across multiple sites or forgetting to apply eligible discounts. Using a single platform for hotel, flight, and car rentals keeps you organized and saves time.

Engine is an all-in-one platform that lets you:

• Compare hotel options
• Book flights and car rentals
• Modify or cancel bookings easily
• Filter by loyalty programs
• See flexible pricing options
• View the total cost upfront
• Collect rewards every time you book

Engine also makes it easier for businesses to track spending, set travel policies, and keep employees on budget while on the go.

Streamline business travel and maximize savings with Engine

Business travel doesn’t have to come with steep bills—with the right tools, you can save on every hotel stay, flight, and car rental. A comprehensive platform like Engine streamlines group booking, maximizes loyalty rewards, and offers flexible options, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

Use Engine to simplify business travel and get more value from every trip.

FAQs 

What’s a rate guarantee?

A rate guarantee means the hotel promises that if you find a lower rate elsewhere for the same room, the hotel offering the guarantee will match or beat the price. Brands like Marriott and Hyatt offer rate guarantees to reward travelers for booking directly.

Why do some hotel chains offer free breakfast while others don’t?

Whether a hotel offers complimentary breakfast depends on the brand and its target audience. Some chains, especially those catering to business travelers, offer free breakfast as a standard perk. Others may reserve it for loyalty members or those who book with a specific travel credit card. 

Do loyalty programs help if I stay at different hotels often?

You can join multiple loyalty programs and collect points from each stay, even if you switch between chains like Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott. Some programs offer better perks, like upgrades, discounts, or cash back through credit card rewards. If you travel frequently, committing to one hotel chain will help you reach loyalty tiers faster than racking up points with different chains.