IT IS hard to book hotels in Shanghai, but it is going to get worse before it gets better. In these circumstances, travellers need to work within the system.
First is the price factor. Full prices have already increased twice this year at most leading hotels, although in some cases this takes Shanghai to a price level similar to other major cities in Asia.
To reduce the effect of these higher prices, travellers should register with the hotel or hotel group to get access to corporate rates, and check through their travel agency to see if there are any special rates.
Taking the Portman Shangri-La as an example, to get corporate room rate you or your company needs to produce 50 room-nights a year and you qualify for a 25 per cent discount. If you produce 100 room-nights the discount is 30 per cent.
But even these margins are being squeezed; it was a 40 per cent discount, then reduced to 35 per cent and now 30 per cent.
Another tip is to book in advance if possible; already, for instance, it is hard to get rooms in February and March next year because of a trade fair.