The drop not only in wealthy vacationers, but also corporate travelers, has hit the segment hard.

“We are seeing special offers from luxury properties that have never had them in the past,” Tim MacDonald, president of Classic Vacations, told the International Herald Tribune. In addition to nights free, hotels are offering spa credits, adjoining rooms, discounts on seven-day packages and free meals. Loews Hotels is even offering up to 20 percent off if guests book 60 days in advance. Westin Hotels and Resorts’ senior vice president Sue Brush said that the chain will forgo glossy magazine ads in luxury pubs and promote more online and in newspapers, enhancing their “value message.”

But for some properties, that may not be enough. In an effort to fill empty rooms, some upscale hotels are now relying on third-party services like LuxuryLink, an auction site that offers discounted rates on hotels in places like Italy, Costa Rica, ...

Source: BNet

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