Rates are based on market conditions, and they currently favor hotels. This year’s revenue per available room (RevPAR) forecast of a 7 percent and 9 percent increase may not match last year’s 8.9 percent, says Richard Green, Vice President, Association Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Marriott International, but it still will be strong. And as long as rates keep rising, escalation clauses will land on the high side. “My advice is to negotiate a fair rate today with some ability for another rate discussion a year out to align with market conditions then,” he says. To learn more about this topic, read Hotel Negotiation, What Works Now in the June issue of EXPO.