"I did check and my companies corporate rate allows it to be used by employees on vacation etc. hence no issue when I turn up in Koh Samui on a corporate rate! Not sure about using the rate for contractors but I have definitely been booked on an IBM rate consulting at IBM, in fact they insisted on it."

"Because this code is widely known, it is hard-coded into IHG's auditing software to trigger a request for ID. The IBM code often has a bigger discount, so hotels are inclined to ask for IBM ID at check-in. Staff ID is required, otherwise the best available rate will be applied."

"I have once forgotten my ID in the car of a colleague, who was staying at a different hotel. The hotel refused to honor my rate without ID and offered to cancel my reservation despite being after the dealine free of charge (i.e. if I coould not deliver an ID, it would be either I pay the rack rate or cancelation). In the end, we agreed the hotel blocked the rack rate on my cc and I showed the ID as soon as got it."