$900+ for 3 nights at the Book-Cadillac, seriously!?

**DetroitPlanner** · November-21-10, 11:57 AM

You can always stay at the Viking!

bartock · November-21-10, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

Indeed, it's only, what? 4 blocks?

My first thought upon reading that post about the walk from the B-C to Cobo was "Have we really become that sedentary around here?" But then came the second thought "Ohhhhh..."

It is barely four blocks, and there is nothing remotely dangerous about the area, if that is what the poster was implying. Even in winter, the walk would only take a few minutes. If it is during the week and during the day, at worst someone might run into "sir, sir" guy [[though I haven't seen him in a while).

**marcwigle** · November-21-10, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Bcscott

I've been a huge fan and supporter of the B-C since it reopened as well as turning others onto it, but no longer

. I show my vehicles at Autorama every year so I'm in Detroit for four days and that's the place I like to stay.

Unfortunately this year the price for a three night stay in February crept up to almost $600 so we decided for the show we would try the Fort Shelby which was really nice. I took my girlfriend to Detroit for her birthday this September and a Sunday night at the B-C was $329+ tax, and valet. Almost $400 for one night in the off season in downtown Detroit? Are you kidding me? Luckilly the Fort Shelby had rooms for less than half that price.

Now, its time to start looking for Autorama rooms, the show is Feb 25-27. I decided to give the B-C one more chance and my jaw hit the floor when the price came up, $824 for a 3 night stay! Add valet, tips, etc and we're talking just south of a grand for a three night, off season stay. Forget it, I'm done.

That's almost what I pay for airfare and a nice hotel on the strip for a two person weekender in Vegas, or half of price for the all inclusive trip to Cozumel I just bought. What the Hell are they thinking? Is the recession over in Detroit and everything is cool? Sorry about the rant but this makes me really mad. I don't know who's going to keep the place afloat with prices like that? The price I got was from Expedia and maybe others would have a slightly better deal, who knows? I doubt the others will be much better. Is there any reason on earth for this kind of price hike?

Having worked in the hotel industry for many years, all I can say is, supply and demand. If the B-C can charge that rate, it's because people are willing to pay that rate. If they're not willing, the rate comes down... pretty simple actually. Hotels don't always have the luxury of being 90% full all year round so they take the higher rates when they can and charge less in the off-season.

As for the later Milner message, we stayed there last summer and will do so again next summer. Didn't have any problems whatsoever with the place and the People Mover is a block away. If I wanted a luxury hotel... well, I wouldn't have stayed at the Milner. When you've got a family of four, sometimes you need to scrimp a bit on hotel rooms.

**detmsp** · November-21-10, 01:00 PM

I think it's kind of amusing that someone is complaining that the very nicest and most expensive hotel in the entire city is expensive.

I'm quite pleased to hear of these high prices. A while back someone around here was floating a rumor that the BC was about to be foreclosed on... I'll take this as a sign that there's not truth to that rumor.

**Packman41** · November-21-10, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by detmsp

A while back someone around here was floating a rumor that the BC was about to be foreclosed on... I'll take this as a sign that there's not truth to that rumor.

No, the rumor was that Ferchill's other hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn was in foreclosure and that turned out to be true.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pb...UB01/308299993#

Only time will tell in the B-C. It has a MASSIVE $90+ million loan that comes due in a year or two. Given the latest sales prices of other hotels in the area, such as Dearborn Hyatt [[750 rooms) at $12 million or the Dearborn Ritz-Carlton for ONLY $3.0 million you really have to wonder how they are ever going to repay this debt.

Maybe they have to jack up the room rates no matter the occupancy level in order to get as much money as they can.

Maybe they only want the movie/film folks as they:
1) Present a "better" image
2) Don't care what it costs as someone else is paying the bills
3) The guy paying the bills doesn't care as 42% of his costs are paid by the taxpayers of the state. So his $300 per night bill is really only $174. That's a nice discount.

I really don't know how or if they are making their loan payment now. Maybe the City of Detroit pension funds that invested in the hotel have to report it.

Again, only time will tell. Stay tuned.

**REL** · November-21-10, 01:47 PM

Seriously? Unless I missed it, I haven't seen anyone mention the Inn on Ferry Street. They're the #1-rated Inn in Detroit on tripadvisor.com, and are an Expedia Insiders' Select Hotel. They aren't a quaint little B&B. They are a full-service historic inn with WIFI, a business center, and a shuttle that will take you anywhere within 5 miles [[which means no finding/paying for parking).

The kicker? Rates start at $129/night, or $149 for a Queen Deluxe, and that's even BEFORE you call to ask about any promotions. I called to check availability on your dates, and they indeed have plenty rooms available.

Not only does it have the service and the price, but you're supporting an extremely well-run local business, and get to enjoy the gorgeous surroundings, too. It's a collection of four 1800's fully-restored historic homes and two carriage houses. Need I say more?

**Bcscott** · November-21-10, 04:42 PM

Wow, so most of you guys don't see a problem with a hotel charging $900 for three nights in downtown Detroit? Okay, I'll remember that when they're shutting off the lights there. I don't expect bargain basement prices at the B-C. Like I said I paid $400-$450 the first two years, but this year it went up by half and next year the prices have more than doubled? What the Hell are they going to charge in 2012 if its still open?

Just a little perspective, I recently stayed at the Venetian in Las Vegas in a beautiful two room suite with 3 flat screens and a view of the strip for $1150. That price was for the same amount of time, Thursday-Sunday but it also included my roundtrip airfare! I have to respectfully disagree with the majority of the responses that see nothing wrong with this. Nowhere downtown is worth almost a grand for three nights no matter what.

Blarf · November-21-10, 05:00 PM

Over $200 a night, and you can't even get a Jimmy John's at 3:00 in the afternoon because they are both closed. No thanks.

**bailey** · November-21-10, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Bcscott

Wow, so most of you guys don't see a problem with a hotel charging $900 for three nights in downtown Detroit? Okay, I'll remember that when they're shutting off the lights there. I don't expect bargain basement prices at the B-C. Like I said I paid $400-$450 the first two years, but this year it went up by half and next year the prices have more than doubled? What the Hell are they going to charge in 2012 if its still open?

Just a little perspective, I recently stayed at the Venetian in Las Vegas in a beautiful two room suite with 3 flat screens and a view of the strip for $1150. That price was for the same amount of time, Thursday-Sunday but it also included my roundtrip airfare! I have to respectfully disagree with the majority of the responses that see nothing wrong with this. Nowhere downtown is worth almost a grand for three nights no matter what.

personally, if you can't afford it, don't stay there. No doubt they are trying to price a certain element out of the hotel.
If they discount the rooms, they lower the prestige. Clearly they are trying to be "THE" hotel to stay in while in Detroit. time will tell if it works, I agree though, Detroit isn't worth 300+ night anywhere.

checkraisej · November-21-10, 05:31 PM

If you can afford to spend weekends in Vegas, go to Cozumel, and come to Autorama every year, you can afford to pay a couple hundred extra to stay downtown. Or, you can quit bitching and go somewhere else. A quick check shows numerous hotels downtown in the $100-$200/night price range, including the Hilton Garden Inn, the Atheneum, Holiday Express, the Fort Shelby, and even the Marriott at the Ren Cen.

**Gistok** · November-21-10, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by Bcscott

Wow, so most of you guys don't see a problem with a hotel charging $900 for three nights in downtown Detroit? Okay, I'll remember that when they're shutting off the lights there. I don't expect bargain basement prices at the B-C. Like I said I paid $400-$450 the first two years, but this year it went up by half and next year the prices have more than doubled? What the Hell are they going to charge in 2012 if its still open?

Just a little perspective, I recently stayed at the Venetian in Las Vegas in a beautiful two room suite with 3 flat screens and a view of the strip for $1150. That price was for the same amount of time, Thursday-Sunday but it also included my roundtrip airfare! I have to respectfully disagree with the majority of the responses that see nothing wrong with this. Nowhere downtown is worth almost a grand for three nights no matter what.

Let's put your Las Vegas hotel comparison into proper perspective... this from Frommer's....
___________________________

"Growth in the hotel capacity of Las Vegas is now becoming ridiculous. Last year, just before Christmas, Las Vegas acquired several thousands of new hotel rooms [[in the Aria, Vdara and Mandarin Oriental hotels) in a project known as City Center — and Vegas went into a serious condition of hotel glut. Occupancy rates plunged, and so did hotel prices."

"Would you believe that this Christmas, Las Vegas is about to welcome another new 3,000-room hotel, the Cosmopolitan? Owned by Deutsche Bank, which picked it up when the former owners could not pay their mortgage installments, and financed in construction by the giant German financial organization, the Cosmopolitan is totally un-needed in Las Vegas. Its opening will dump another 3,000 deluxe rooms on a city that is awash in hotels. After a “slow” opening in mid-December, the Cosmopolitan will open for good on Jan. 1, 2011, when you will be able to obtain [[because of over-capacity in hotels) some of the lowest prices for high-quality rooms in the history of tourism. When, in 2011, you call for a reservation at any Vegas hotel, bargain hard — you’re in a buyer’s market of unimaginable proportions."
____________________________

When the Ritz Carlton took away its hotel name from the Dearborn hotel, the only luxury hotels in the Detroit market were now the Book Cadillac and the Townsend in Birmingham.

So rather than having sour grapes over not being able to stay at the Book Cadillac [[now that it can book itself at premium rates)... why don't you stay at the Merriott Renaissance Center... just a people mover ride away from Cobo.

Complaining that a Detroit hotel is doing well and can raise fares for the luxury trade... well lets just say it's falling on deaf ears....

**Malcove Magnesia** · November-21-10, 05:36 PM

I stay at the B.C. 2 - 3 times a year. The rates for specific dates can vary wildly, so try doing some hunting around on the Westin / SPG website and see if you can dig up packages or discounts [[e.g. I usually take advantage of AAA discounts which include breakfast or valet parking...).

And of course there's always The Leland a few streets away.

**cch** · November-21-10, 05:44 PM

So, what you're saying is you're trying to get a room 4 blocks away from the HQ of one of the biggest conventions in the entire US during the convention. Yeah, it really makes no sense that it's so pricey then...

If you're not willing to trade amenities for cost, then suck it up and pay for it. It's not like the Holiday Inn is a motel. Check out the Corktown Inn if you want cheap and close.

**Matt The Deuce** · November-21-10, 06:10 PM

Supply and demand.

The hotel wouldn't be charging these prices if they weren't getting them. This is a good sign. Enough people are willing to pay higher prices to stay in Detroit's premiere hotel.

Businesses exist to make money. To say that they should keep prices down to accommodate somebody's personal budget is ridiculous. It's illogical.

**Gistok** · November-21-10, 06:29 PM

Matt... it's good to hear from you again.... didn't see you at the last forum picnic?

**Mind field** · November-21-10, 06:42 PM

Gistok, I think the Royal Park in Rochester could also be considered in the same league as the BC and Townsend.

**RYANGUARD** · November-21-10, 06:52 PM

Ya pays ya money and ya takes ya choice!!!

DetroitDad · November-21-10, 06:59 PM

The price you get from Expedia is an inflated price, as I am sure you realize, as Expedia is a middleman, and Westin has already offered them those rooms at a discounted price, which Expedia has raised in order to make a profit from. During the offseason, it is possible to get a lower rate at most hotels by calling a local agent, or the front desk number, and speaking with someone who is able to manipulate the lowest ROH rack rate for your hotel. If you are looking for a single room or a studio in Detroit, you can get it for peanuts, though it sounds like you have two or more people in your group who may not be comfortable sharing a single bed.

Even so, the actual room price cycle in Detroit is somewhat different from a few other cities you may be used to, in part because of the influx of rooms that suddenly came out of nowhere onto the market, followed by the current drain [[this year) of rooms leaving the market. Basically, the Book Cadillac has lost a ton of direct and indirect competition recently, and Autorama groups book hotel and meeting rooms nearby [[Book Cadillac is nearby). Plainly put, the Book Cadillac may actually be close to being completely booked... pun intended.

MGM Grand Hotel, Motor City Hotel and Casino, and the Westin Book Cadillac are at or near the top of the list of most popular upscale hotels in the region. Fort Shelby and the Renaissance Center Marriott are not far behind. If you were to look at rooms at the Hilton Garden, Greektown Hotel and Casino, St. Regis, and Athenium, you might find hotels teatering on the brink of bankruptcy. If you were to check for vacancies at the the former Riverfront [[Ponchatrain), Omni, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, Downtown Ramada, or Southfield Holiday Inn, you would find that they have all been closed recently.

Links to similar stories:

Originally Posted by Bcscott

I've been a huge fan and supporter of the B-C since it reopened as well as turning others onto it, but no longer

. I show my vehicles at Autorama every year so I'm in Detroit for four days and that's the place I like to stay.

Unfortunately this year the price for a three night stay in February crept up to almost $600 so we decided for the show we would try the Fort Shelby which was really nice. I took my girlfriend to Detroit for her birthday this September and a Sunday night at the B-C was $329+ tax, and valet. Almost $400 for one night in the off season in downtown Detroit? Are you kidding me? Luckilly the Fort Shelby had rooms for less than half that price.

Now, its time to start looking for Autorama rooms, the show is Feb 25-27. I decided to give the B-C one more chance and my jaw hit the floor when the price came up, $824 for a 3 night stay! Add valet, tips, etc and we're talking just south of a grand for a three night, off season stay. Forget it, I'm done.

That's almost what I pay for airfare and a nice hotel on the strip for a two person weekender in Vegas, or half of price for the all inclusive trip to Cozumel I just bought. What the Hell are they thinking? Is the recession over in Detroit and everything is cool? Sorry about the rant but this makes me really mad. I don't know who's going to keep the place afloat with prices like that? The price I got was from Expedia and maybe others would have a slightly better deal, who knows? I doubt the others will be much better. Is there any reason on earth for this kind of price hike?

Stosh · November-21-10, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitDad

The price you get from Expedia is an inflated price, as I am sure you realize, as Expedia is a middleman, and Westin has already offered them those rooms at a discounted price, which Expedia has raised in order to make a profit from. During the offseason, it is possible to get a lower rate at most hotels by calling a local agent, or the front desk number, and speaking with someone who is able to manipulate the lowest ROH rack rate for your hotel. If you are looking for a single room or a studio in Detroit, you can get it for peanuts, though it sounds like you have two or more people in your group who may not be comfortable sharing a single bed.

Even so, the actual room price cycle in Detroit is somewhat different from a few other cities you may be used to, in part because of the influx of rooms that suddenly came out of nowhere onto the market, followed by the current drain [[this year) of rooms leaving the market. Basically, the Book Cadillac has lost a ton of direct and indirect competition recently, and Autorama groups book hotel and meeting rooms nearby [[Book Cadillac is nearby). Plainly put, the Book Cadillac may actually be close to being completely booked... pun intended.

MGM Grand Hotel, Motor City Hotel and Casino, and the Westin Book Cadillac are at or near the top of the list of most popular upscale hotels in the region. Fort Shelby and the Renaissance Center Marriott are not far behind. If you were to look at rooms at the Hilton Garden, Greektown Hotel and Casino, St. Regis, and Athenium, you might find hotels teatering on the brink of bankruptcy. If you were to check for vacancies at the the former Riverfront [[Ponchatrain), Omni, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, Downtown Ramada, or Southfield Holiday Inn, you would find that they have all been closed recently.

Links to similar stories:

You posted the same stuff before, why do it again? Recycling?

**Knocturnal** · November-21-10, 08:04 PM

Bcscott - What are your dates of stay? I looked up rates on Hotwire.com for the dates of February 24th-27th, and a 4-star hotel downtown is going for $109 per night. I can nearly assure you that this is the Book-Cadillac, because it lists "spa" as an ammenity. The only other four star hotels downtown are that of the casinos, which should have "casino gambling" listed as an ammenity [[of which, no other four stars appear at this time). You can specify a bed choice for a few bucks more. This three night stay would run you $387.56 [[including taxes/fees) out the door. Alternatively, I also looked up the same stay for Feb 25th-28th and it was the listed for the same $109 rate. Just sayin...

DetroitDad · November-21-10, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Stosh

You posted the same stuff before, why do it again? Recycling?

It's one of the three "R's" of sustainability. Posting snide comments on the other hand, is a waste of bandwidth and non-renewable time and energy.

**Bcscott** · November-21-10, 10:56 PM

Knocturnal,
it would be Thursday the 24th which is move in day through Sunday the 27th. I never use Hotwire because I don't like committing to pay without knowing where I'll be staying. I didn't think about the spa angle, maybe its something I should look into.

For the record I wasn't looking for sympathy, just an explaination as to why Westin thought $900 was acceptable to charge for a 3 night stay? I got a couple answers, a few of which made sense. Thanks. This however is the kind of stuff that drives me insane:

If you can afford to spend weekends in Vegas, go to Cozumel, and come to Autorama every year, you can afford to pay a couple hundred extra to stay downtown. Or, you can quit bitching and go somewhere else. checkraisej

I'm not rich by any means, I'm a just a factory worker who doesn't live beyond my means. I also work between 300-400 hours of overtime per year so I can have hot rods, motorcycles, and go on vacations. But according to checkraisej I should be punished for being stupid enough to want to spend my money in Detroit. Just because I can afford it doesn't mean I deserve to get raped. You can be jealous of those who have more than you all day long and it doesn't help your situation one bit.

I know the Vegas comparison wasn't apples to oranges. I was simply trying to showcase what you could do with nearly the same amount of money that the B-C was asking. I like Detroit but Vegas is a lot more fun.

**detroitbob** · November-21-10, 11:06 PM

Expedia and the other online "discount" sites mark up bulk rate deals they get from corporate sales of hotel rooms, car rentals and airline tickets...

One of the best sources is to have a Westin membership...and book through the hotel. But if there is SAE. DIAS, SME, all of which pack hotels as far as Ann Arbor, discounts are few and far between unless you can access a package discount from, for example, the Auto Dealers Association or some other corporate discount.

**Gistok** · November-21-10, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by Mind field

Gistok, I think the Royal Park in Rochester could also be considered in the same league as the BC and Townsend.

Duh! Yes, I forgot about that one....

I know that Southfield is no longer in the high end hotel league... bu is there anything on Big Beaver in Troy that comes close??

And how does the Botsford Inn compare?