What a difference 18 months make? A comparative look at San Francisco Starwood Hotel Rates

The bottom line for the hotel traveler is “How much will my room cost?”

I read a post on *Wood blog about the Mobil Five-Star Award conferred upon the St. Regis San Francisco recently.  I then noticed yesterday the lowest rates I’ve ever seen for the St. Regis San Francisco. 

St. Regis San Francisco, Metropolitan Suite

A spreadsheet I made in August 2007 for hotel rates in San Francisco allowed me to make a comparison to current hotel rates and illustrate the impact of the current economy on the high end hotel market.

San Francisco hotel rates are typically lower during holidays due to the central business district location of most major hotels.  Labor Day weekend rates in 2007 were near the low rates for the entire year from my observations of hotel rates in San Francisco.  There is a certain amount of rate fluctuation due to seasonal rate adjustments with February being near the lowest rate month for San Francisco, however, rate decreases year round are typically tempered by frequent conventions and conferences in the city.

I made a comparison of rates for same hotels for February 13-16, 2009 with the Friday-Monday Labor Day 2007 weekend. Rates for several high-end Starwood hotels were checked on August 22, 2007 for the 3-day Labor Day weekend Friday, August 31-Monday, September 3, 2007.  Several rate types were checked including group rates like AAA and senior rates, hotel special offer rates, and Starwood multi-night discount rates. 

In general, the lowest rates for the Valentine’s weekend 2009 are typically found using Starwood Hotels special rate offer for the Third Night Free on a weekend stay. 

St. Regis did not offer the 3^rd Night free rate for 2007 stay.  Rates shown for 2007 were either nonrefundable internet rates or hotel special offer rates. Rates are generally 30%+ lower in 2009.

Peculiar Starwood clause in the room description for a Fantastic Suite: “700 Square ft, Floors 23-28, unobstructed views, No Parties or Meetings Allowed!”  Rates are about 30% lower in 2009.

Palace Hotel courtyard restaurant, San Francisco

The Palace Hotel has dropped rates near to 2006 levels when the hotel was still going for as low as $99 on slow weekends.  2007 and 2008 rates hovered around $200 for the lowest category rooms.

The $159 rate for a Junior Suite is quite a discount on average rates at the Palace over past two years.  Rates are generally 30% to 50% lower in 2009.

Le Meridien room category types have changed so much in the room descriptions that I can’t easily match room descriptions now with descriptions from 2007.