Hotel discounts
May 3rd, 2012 at 12:18 pm by David FarrarThe Herald reports:
Act leader John Banks last night released a hotel invoice to attack claims he got a discounted deal in Kim Dotcom’s favourite Hong Kong hotel – and showed a room rate about half of the current quoted cost.
As any regular traveller will know, very few people pay the rack rate at a hotel. Suggesting that one gets a discount as a special favour is naive or mischievous.
It followed claims in Parliament that Mr Banks was given a discount for the hotel stay, which Dotcom helped to arrange.
The invoice showed Mr and Mrs Banks stayed at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and were charged $678 a night.
But staff at the hotel’s reservations desk last night said the rate for the room the Banks stayed in was $1303, including a 10 per cent service charge.
But, did the Herald do what I did – and check what rates you can get through different websites?
Last night, Mr Banks’ staff insisted there was no discount attached to the hotel stay. A spokeswoman said she was present when Mr Banks sought and received an assurance there was no discount attached to his bill.
She said Mr Banks asked specifically if there was any discount applied to his bill and was told by the hotel manager there was not.
Mr Banks had earlier sought a copy of the bill from the hotel showing he and his wife were billed HK$4290 ($679) a night for four nights’ accommodation. “I was absolutely pedantic about paying for everything in Hong Kong myself and the management of the Hyatt Hotel will attest to that. …
Staff on the hotel reservation desk identified the room the couple had stayed in – room 2317 – as one of the Grand Deluxe Harbour View rooms.
They said the room rate was currently HK$7500 plus a 10 per cent service charge. The total figure in New Zealand dollars was $1303 a night. …
The Hyatt website offers a discounted price of $805 for guests that pay for their stay on arrival. The invoice provided by Mr Banks showed the bill was settled on check out.
The main hotel website is often the most expensive. Let us see what rates for a grand deluxe harbour view room we can get via Trip Advisor. Now John Banks paid NZ$2,716 for 4 nights.
- Booking.com – NZ$2,466
- Agoda – US$2,012 = NZ$2,493
- Expedia – NZ$2,728
- Venere – NZ$2,728
It is quite legitimate to criticise John Banks for downplaying the extend of his relationship with Kim Dotcom. Claiming to forget that he flew to his mansion in a helicopter is stretching credibility. But this story about a so called special hotel discount is a beat up, as far as I can tell.
May 3rd, 2012 at 12:34 pm
If the source is Dotcom he’s running at 100% reliable at the moment, and Banks is failing to score.
Vote:Probably just as interesting is the amazing revelation by the Act Part president that Banks told him that he had asked Dotcom for 2 cheques, consistent with what Dotcom said himself, a statement that the president later withdrew giving a rather odd explanation that could do with some clarification.
May 3rd, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Eddie tried to promote Mallard’s Hong Kong smear on The Standard this morning – and quickly disappeared, but it may not have had anything to do with Banks’ threat to Mallard.
But the numpties jumped in full bore. They must have been too young to have ever booked a hotel, or maybe they are journos from the Herald and always charge up the full rate to the company.
Starts from here:
http://thestandard.org.nz/resignationwatch-oopsie/comment-page-1/#comment-466904
It seems that corruption is asking for a discount.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Exactly what i thought when i read this stupid story.
I’ve stayed in some $400 a night hotels for $80 a night.
Gimme a break.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 1:04 pm
I’ll just point out that you are correct DPF hardly anyone pays the rack rate at hotels.
That is unless you are staying during peak times. I have worked at a number of hotels and Christmas was a very peak time.
So this weeks rack rate is about 1000 dollars depending on occupancy you could expect to pay as little has half that…500 dollars. During a non peak time
Banks is saying he paid 600 dollars during a peak time almost the same as non peak. I don’t buy it.
Now to be fair the hotel could have applied the discount with out banks’ knowledge because they knew he was affiliated with dot com. I don’t begrudge him getting a good deal but I think he did get one.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Stupid story it may be but that’s not the point. As tempting as it always is to label Mallard as a dipstick (witness the quote screw-up the other day), he’s knows exactly what he’s doing here.
First of all, it is absolutely vital to use a drip-feed approach to stories such as the initial ones about Banks, otherwise the narrative fades into the background. Even if something has to be made up it can be done in a semi-plausible manner that fits the starting theme. If retractions have to be made later it does not matter; another news cycle has been processed with the theme that Banks is unethical.
Secondly – and in this case I think this is more important – Banks is well-known for being relentless about being seen as law-abiding. The story of his youth, the criminal background of his heritage, and his escape from that, has been well-known for years now. It’s a big part of what has made him seem so unbending on issues of law and order. Given that, it’s his weakest spot: attack his reputation for honesty and he’s guaranteed to go ballistic – which insures more coverage.
So I think Trevor knows exactly what he’s doing here, and the whole deal is about a lot more than the fate of John Banks.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Does anybody know what Dotcom’s game is yet ???
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 1:13 pm
” But, did the Herald do what I did – and check what rates you can get through different websites? ”
But did you do what John Banks did and check what rates you could get through Dotcom ?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Just go on those same websites and see what they charge at xmas?
Vote:I think Banks came off worse, thought dotcom would offer him a freebie on his penthouse, ended up paying way too much for a hotel room. If he had known in advance he probably would have stayed at a backpackers…
May 3rd, 2012 at 2:03 pm
“Banks is well-known for being relentless about being seen as law-abiding.”
But doesn’t question, or have any idea why he is all of a sudden paying half-price at a top hotel he was recommended by someone he [possibly] had solicited campagin funds from? Over that hotel’s busiest period of the year?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 2:05 pm
If Trev is so concerned about moral and ethical standards, why does he apparently root every socialist trollop who throws herself at his err, charms?
Not that Mallard has ever paid for a hotel room. He prefers a desk top in the executive wing.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Hands up those who think that Labour’s sustained attack on John Banks (aided and abetted by TV3 and the Herald) is in any way connected with Mike Williams’ visit to Kim Dotcom in Mt Eden Prison whilst the said Mr Dotcom was detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Surely they are just fomenting happy mischief?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Just go on those same websites and see what they charge at xmas?
I just did. I tried for 25-29 December. Same discounted rates.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 2:46 pm
Even Radio NZ this morning, Moaning Report, noted that on checking various web-sites the rates were comparable to what Banks paid, so if even Red Radio can fact check, why is NZ herald so incapable
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 3:02 pm
@adamsmith – one could ask the same question of Trevor Mallard, Labour’s go-to man when there is a smear to be run or a reputation to be besmirched.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 3:13 pm
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6850252/ACT-chief-retracts-statement-on-Dotcom-gift
How do you later hypothesise a conversation from which you have given direct quotes?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 3:22 pm
On Tuesday night I watched the NZ comedy gala show on TV3 – on it Urzla Carlson (NZ’s favourite Sth African) made fun of our news media saying we have NO news in NZ.( Mentioned stories like that fat lonley penguin)
Vote:By Christ she is right.
May 3rd, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Pete George (13,048) Says:
May 3rd, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Just go on those same websites and see what they charge at xmas?
I just did. I tried for 25-29 December. Same discounted rates.”
Xmas in HK? not a particularly busy time mind you, Chinese NY or HK 7s time – different story however
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Trevor Mallard seemed pretty lame in the House this afternoon, and the House seemed generally muted. I get the sense that this John Banks rough up is going to blow over. It will be interesting to see if it even makes the news tonight. People seem to be getting tired of it.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Here’s the wotif rates right now Around 3850 to 4600 HKD, so around $610 to $710 NZ
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Labour party wonder why they get no traction when this lame effort is all Trevor has. This is NZ pettiness at its finest. HK is hardly a Xmas destination anyhow so dont see why you couldn’t get a discounted room rate.
At least Michael Cullen wasn’t negotiating for a hotel room, he would have paid 4 times as much, and offered to be the cleaning lady as well.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 3:45 pm
I don’t much like John Banks, but my reasons for not liking him (and even wanting him gone from ACT) are not the same as those of most left-wingers, especially the little party hacks that seem to jump on these threads.
Having said that, I keep going back to a number of occasions when Craig Ranapia (regarded by most lefties as a fairly balanced National supporter, hence his role at Public Address) informed various Labour sycophants that there was such a thing as karma on these types of issues. Craig informed them that if they wanted to be hyper-partisan about protecting the behaviour of people like Taito and Winston (among others) then the day would come when they would be the ones making the demands – and that they would thus be ignored.
I suppose one can say that stiffing the whole left-wing crowd over Banks will simply keep the cycle going, that somebody has to do the right thing, that John Key should apply the Caesar’s wife rule. And I’m more than prepared to listen to other right-wingers argue this out. But after the crap we had to live through from Helen on her ministers it would take a lot worse than what I’ve seen and heard before Banks was dumped, especially at the behest of “outraged” little trolls such as I see here.
Shorter message to the left-wing on Banks: karma, baby – and get stuffed!
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 3:57 pm
@ EWS and Tom Hunter – once again, it’s starting to look as though John Key has trusted his instincts with regard to Banks where others would have put him out of his misery. Key is so unlike the stereotypical politician that the likes of Mallard can’t get inside his head and work out what his strategies are. And being one step ahead of Labour is what’s going to keep Key in the job.
But this latest smear by Mallard is definitely turning people off. Initial public opinion was strongly against Banks, but that seems to be turning, and the fact that Mallard, Mike Williams and co are having to resort to this sort of shit is a big turn-off for those who aren’t obsessed with politics. It was the ad-homs that contributed to Labour’s loss in 2008, and their spanking last year.
They say that if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. If Labour really wants to show that it has broken with the past, the likes of Mallard, Fenton, Cosgrove and the other “nasties” need to be put out to pasture. No matter who leads Labour, they have no show whilst the party is throwing kack at all and sundry.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 4:15 pm
While I’m inclined to think Banks should hang tough to Mallard’s dirty tricks it’s been another sorry act.
Banks said there was no discount last night, it took him until this afternoon to get his story right (or at least a sensible story) – that he always negotiated a discount like just about everyone else and did so in this case.
Banks has been looking very shaky under pressure, if he was thinking quickly and straight and was getting good prompt advice this nonsense would have been squashed straight away.
Most of it’s been a needless sideshow, and damaging.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 4:19 pm
KS – you’re right about putting the attack dogs out to pasture, but they won’t go and they’re oblivious – they think what they are doing is great. I pointed out the bleeding obvious to mickygreg this morning and he didn’t get it as usual, and reverted to his usual attack mode.
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-03052012/comment-page-1/#comment-466930
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 4:38 pm
@ Keeping Stock. Indeed. Also, these fruitless attacks mean (assuming the media is not having a slow patch) that the next attack is that little bit less powerful.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Meanwhile…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10803276
Banks confirms HK hotel discount (Headline)
So the story goes:
“No! No! No! I did not receive a discount!”
But, hang on a minute, mate…
“Yes! Yes! Yes! I did receive a discount but…um…I negotiated it all by myself!”
And this guy is a Minister of the Crown?
He makes the Minister of Funny Walks look like a statesman
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I wonder if Trade Me Trev will come up with a wonderful idea, book a cheap room rate and put it on Trade Me at the going rate could be a good earner for the looser.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 5:08 pm
What dirty tricks Pete George?
The dirty tricks are coming from Banks because he’s spinning the public one lie after another. If anything Mallard is assisting him by moving on too soon. Bank’s statements are in conflict with those of another Minister and meantime Mallard has skirted off to the next ‘bombshell’ the discounted room only to see Banks change his story on that. I think JK has handled this poorly with considerable assistance from Mallard in particular. As Tom Hunter said above in might be classic practice of deepening the issue of Bank’s credibility with each new revelation – but the opposition at the moment were probably better to incite the debate of who is telling the truth between the two Ministers, an even more classic parry.
Someone suggested above there was a frustration that Mallard couldn’t get ‘inside’ JK’s head. That might in fact be true of a good section of the population who are entitled to expect that someone flip flopping all over the place like Banks has, shouldn’t be a Government Minister. And therefore wonder why JK hasn’t looked at the cumulative picture showing that while he appreciates there is a police inquiry on one issue there are a number of other issues log jammed around the credibility of Banks from his very own mouth coming on a frequent basis.
When Banks came ‘clean’ the other day he should have had the experience to have dealt with everything including the possibility that he might have made some accidental oversight on the cheques, his language to the MP for Pakuranga while maintaining that he hadn’t deliberately done anything wrong. Instead he’s left himself vulnerable to other stuff that will come out. It seems nz politicians don’t have the ability to say that something is true but the construction of the question or allegation has been put out of context.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 6:26 pm
So the rates at xmas are the rates he actually paid, so didn’t get a discount…. Non story then?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 6:41 pm
In fact, he did get a discount. One wonders why he originally lied by saying he didn’t get one. Moreover, if he’s prepared to lie over something so minor as a hotel booking, I have no doubt he would lie about more important things. Banks is untrustworthy.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Where are all the ACT supporters on this thread, to reassure us that Banksie has acted throughout with impeccable probity, impressive dignity and great intelligence? There must still be at least 80 of you guys, surely?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Banks has stuffed up – how someone could possibly forget a trip in a helicopter from downtown Auckland to Coatesville, beggars belief.
That said, it’s patently obvious that the usual group of uninformed morons here haven’t travelled much – rather than a discount off a rack rate, Hotels normally offer several rates for the same room – the rack rate (or ‘peak’ rate / weekday rate) / another rate for ‘off peak’ for weekends / another rate again for Expedia type sites / and yet another rate again for a ‘Wotif’ site that offers cheap rates for last minute bookings. In addition, many Hotels provide upgrades to regular travellers and offer loyalty programmes. All adds up to many, many rates possible for the same room.
In this case, it would have been best if the morons in our midst had firstly gathered the facts before they commenced baying for blood.
But gathering facts? That just wouldn’t work for them…. would it?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Much as I dislike Banks, I actually dont think he has done anything fundamentally wrong, legally or ethically, in the issues raised this week. But his bumbling, amateur, obfuscating reponse has shown contempt for the public and fundamental incompetence. He has exposed himself as a fool.
The real issue is that National’s tactic of throwing its support behind New Zealand’s most detested politican and party, as a means to manipulate the MMP system to ensure its own political survival, is coming home to roost.
Banks is dog tucker – that’s a given. But will he bring John Key and others down with him? Watch this space.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:29 pm
I always forget the last helicopter trip where I never got a deer Elaycee.
Helps ease the writing of the cheque eh!
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Haven’t you read the polls most are ex act supporters.
Vote:We all jumped ship when Banks became our only hope.
Hopefully Banks will salute as he goes down with it.
May 3rd, 2012 at 7:32 pm
LAC
The problem here is not that Banks got a discounted rate. It’s that he denied getting a dicounted rate. Now he says he did.
It just not working for Banks, is it. To be a good liar, one must be consistent. That’s multiple failures for Banks.
I know he hates to think of himself as a loser, but, Hey Banksie, you can’t win ‘em all!
Resign and be done with it.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:34 pm
Quite right Griff used to give ACT my cheque when Prebs and Hide were in charge.
Gave it to PG last time??????
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:34 pm
I hear Banks is a bloody Zionist Luc. Bastard eh?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:36 pm
Luc
Suck it up, Banksie will see this out and will remain at the MP for Epsom.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:38 pm
“I always forget the last helicopter trip where I never got a deer Elaycee.”
Sounds like a rather expensive way to pick up a chick from the Strand, Johnboy – do you use the net or do you stand on the skid and then jump on them?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Johnboy, yes, bastard alright. Those Christian Zionists are worserer than the real thing!
But I’m agnostic about Banks, really. I mean, still over two years to go – what fun is yet to come. :thumbsup:
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:43 pm
‘Suck it up, Banksie will see this out and will remain at the MP for Epsom.”
Yup – Shearer will be gone before Banksie.
Oops…..
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Anyone that Penny Dull hates is OK by me Luc.
Even if she hates Hamas murderers!
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:47 pm
No Elaycee. Usually a 7mm.
Is that why they never come on to me?
Well you learn something everyday eh!
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Elaycee
So one day he says he didn’t get a discount, here’s the receipt to prove it. Then the next says well, actually I did get a discount because I bargained for it all of which is the fault of those that haven’t travelled, and I paid for it on my wife’s credit card, ha ha. Got it. You’d know I was bsing, when I actually wasn’t, if you travelled more.
Orewa
7.29
That’s how I see it, but from the perspective that we’ve got a tough economic climate and National who want to build confidence that we are on the right track, allow this sideshow to happen. Where has the smiling assassin gone, lost his stomach for tough decisions I wonder.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 8:01 pm
And right on cue…. Hah!
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Any predictions on the Auckland waterfront?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 8:23 pm
“Any predictions on the Auckland waterfront?”
Tony Gibson will make Gary Parsloe an offer he can’t refuse?
Vote:
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Yeah.
Vote:“I know when my number’s up.”
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:44 pm
If Banks is dog tucker then Mallard has his victim, by fowl means but he doesn’t care about that.
I won’t be sad to see the end of Banks, never been a fan and he seems to be losing whatever he may have had left. But dirty politics, with the aim simply of ruining someone, career, reputation, no matter, I think this stinks.
Mallard knows that facts and justification don’t matter if he can make enough shit stick and get away with it.
And he’s pissing all over Shearer’s “no gotcha” vision.
This is what turns many people away from politics and voting – and I’m sure it also deters decent candidates.
I think this modus operandi needs to be firmly confronted. Any ideas?
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 8:48 pm
“I’m sure it also deters decent candidates. ”
Surely not PG?
All our hopes depend on you and your ilk!
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 8:59 pm
So which of Banks’ alleged crimes is worse; getting a discount at a hotel instead of paying rack rate, or putting it on his wife’s credit card? If either of those was a “hanging offence” as Helen Clark used to call misdemeanours by her Ministers, there wouldn’t be many MP’s left in the House…
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 9:02 pm
KS
I think the issue is wider than that, and that’s the problem – the failure of JK to address it.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Pete George
No ideas from me because the greatest resistance will be from the law makers.
Vote:But from a subtle to this point perspective, Shearer attracts no criticism for his position on this.
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:09 pm
His biggest crime is he is right not left KS!
Deep down you knew that really!!!
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 9:24 pm
@ Nostalgia; once again, the Left underestimates Key at its peril. Key is trusting his instincts here in not throwing Banks to the wolves, and the fact that Labour has had to dig up this Williams/Mallard smear suggests that they know that they’re not going to nail Banks on the donation issue.
That Key is not your stereotypical politician is the thing that Labour hates the most; they can’t pigeon-hole him. It must frustrate the hell out of Mallard and co, having someone respond in a way that is different to how the perceive a career politican would react.
And just what was Mike Williams thinking; going to Mt Eden to ask Dotcom for almost a quarter of a million bucks at a time when Dotcom was banged up, and when his assets had been frozen. Or maybe that’s not what he was REALLY asking Dotcom for; the plot has thickened in the last 24 hours, t’be sure
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Quite so Johnboy; Banks doesn’t have the “I’m a Leftie Get Out of Jail” card.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 9:33 pm
KS
Sounds good, I look forward to you producing the goods – instead of any more ‘Irene good night’ to a persistent suitor.
Vote:May 3rd, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Perhaps John Banks should quit ACT and go and join NZ First. He and Winston Peters could share the leadership. On the face of it, they seem to have a lot in common.
Vote: