Final answer:
It is false to always offer a list of possible discounts before quoting the rack rate; it's better to first understand the guest's needs. A statistical test like ANOVA can analyze if hotel prices significantly differ across cities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a reservationist should always offer the caller a list of possible discounts before quoting the rack rate is false. Best practices in the hospitality industry suggest that reservationists should first understand the customer's needs and preferences before offering pricing information. While it may be beneficial to inform the customer of any discounts for which they may be eligible, quoting discounts without understanding the customer's situation may not serve the goal of providing the best customer service or maximizing revenue.
Regarding the specific scenario outlined in the question, if a traveler wants to analyze hotel prices variation, the proper approach would be to conduct a statistical test, such as an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), to determine if there are significant differences in prices between the 10 cities at the 1 percent level of significance. This test would help to see if the differences in prices are statistically significant or not.