Behind the Scenes of Group Hotel Savings: How Marco Makes It Happen

A question we often hear from our customers is:

“Can you really save us money on hotel bookings? If so, how?”

It’s a good question.

While Marco saves you loads of time by offering a product-led experience that replaces the typically manual process of finding a group reservations at a hotels, many wonder: do we actually deliver cost savings? And HOW?!

We’ll share some real data and the ways which Marco helps you save.

A Quick Anecdote

Just this week, I spoke with a customer who had previously stayed at one of our Preferred Partner properties, Civana.

I gave her our pitch: we work with hundreds of companies for group hotel bookings and offsite planning, securing great rates in the process.

But she wanted proof whether this was true, so I pulled up the last rate we got from Civana, live. It turned out to be much lower than the rate she paid before.

This week, we secured a contract for her at a phenomenal price—one she admitted she wouldn’t have been able to get on her own.

First off—How Do Group Hotel Rates Work?

Many people don’t realize that standard room rates listed online don’t typically apply to group bookings.

Instead, you have to reach out to the hotel—usually by phone or email—to discuss dates, number of rooms, and any special requirements.

Here’s why that can benefit you:

• Customized Rates: Because group pricing isn’t set in stone, hotels will often negotiate based on factors like group size, dates, and overall spending potential.
• Relationship-Based Perks: If you (or a travel partner) have an existing relationship with the hotel, you’re more likely to secure deeper discounts, room upgrades, or other extras.
• Manual Process: Negotiating group rates is time-consuming, involving back-and-forth emails, phone calls, and sometimes formal proposals. Although it’s labor-intensive, the payoff is often worth it for the better rates and added concessions you can lock in if done right.

There are a few key reasons Marco is able to secure savings for you:

• Specialization: We’re an IATA-certified, tech-enabled travel agency.
• Scale: We deliver thousands of leads to our supply partners.
• Legitimacy: We vet our leads, connecting high-quality customers who excite our partners—leading to better rates.
• Targeted Property Matching: We help match with hotels that closely match their needs, so they’re more likely to close the deal and offer better rates and perks.
• Preferred Partnerships: We build deep relationships with hotel partners, who reward that loyalty.
• Negotiation: We know how to negotiate aggressively for both rates and concessions.

Some helpful data

Now let’s see how this looks with real data!

We’ve focused on just room rates with this data - this doesn’t take into account meeting space fee that we’ve comped, F&B minimums we’ve reduced, and other concessions we’ve secured.

Some takeaways

• We consistently shave 20–30% off standard rates—sometimes hitting 40%.
• For mid-sized groups, that’s often tens of thousands of dollars saved.
• Each deal is about more than just room rates—negotiation, relationships, and scale all play a part.
• The bottom line? Real bookings prove that our approach directly impacts your budget, not by a few dollars, but by a sizable margin.

What’s Next?

We’re doubling down on product features and forging new partnerships so you can score even better rates.

Soon, you’ll see data-driven negotiation tools that highlight the best booking windows, plus a revamped Preferred Partner program that makes your savings crystal clear. If you want to learn more about our process take our three minute retreat Quiz.

Stay tuned—there’s more in store!