Even before I read Odrade's post, which confirmed it, I would have guessed that the wts gets some kind of kickback from hotels on the recommended list. It's a pity the jws who are being instructed to follow this procedure don't know this, as I am sure most of them don't.
I wonder how the wts would react if their recommended hotels weren't filled, and jws made their own, probably cheaper, deals. They surely can't df someone for using an "unlisted" hotel, or can they.....?