The good news for consumers seeking a luxury hotel deal is the downturn in corporate luxury retreats will likely lead to many more opportunities for bookable “real” discounts at 5-star hotels like we haven’t seen for some years, if ever.

I recently repeated a Faster Free Nights Hyatt analysis using the same hotels and dates in 2008 that I used in 2007. The Hyatt Highlands Inn in Carmel was averaging $400 per night in Nov 2007 and is down to $225 in Nov 2008.

This contest has been an emotional roller coaster for me. After spending 80 minutes at 5am with their first online failure, and a second time at 5am for a “postponed” offer, my desire for one of these hotels became even more obsessive.

Last Thurs Oct 23,I submitted my hotel request for the Bernardus Lodge and Enchantment Spa in about 20 seconds.Both driveable from Los Angeles, and Sedona-couldn’t wait to go.Was my cable modem connection too slow?

So what a disappoint, worse than losing a lottery or contest. A few years ago the LATimes travel section posted a hotel in SF offering room rates for the last two digits of your birth year. That did work out for me and I wish the LHW had done a similiar celebration offer. Something real and attainable with just a phone call. And a lot less drama.