Hotel Blocks

lcarp203

I am in the process of narrowing down the hotels that I want to use for my hotel blocks.  Is there anything that you ladies are making sure to check on with the hotels prior to selecting them?

Here is the information I have been trying to get in order to make a decision:
- Is  there a min # of rooms that will need to be booked to get the discount?
- Will we get charged if we do not fill the whole block of rooms?
- Is there a shuttle to any near by attractions?  If so, how far does it run and what are the shuttle hours?
- Can you block our guests near each other?
- Can we drop off OOT gift bags prior to the guests arriving?  If so, do you charge to put them in the rooms?  Are we able to put them in the rooms ourselves?
- Do you have an online code that the guests book under or do they call the hotel directly?
- What are the rates for each of the different room types (ie- 2 queens vs 1 king)

Anything I am missing?  Thanks for your help!

kb5432

Sounds like you have all the basic questions covered.  I do want to recommend Hilton brand hotels.  We recently blocked off rooms for our wedding with 2 Hilton brand hotels.  They offer a website for guests to book through or they can call in, they offered us specials rates for every room type available.  There is no minimum room number that has to be booked to get the discount but they will release the rest of the rooms 3 weeks prior to the date.  Also if 10 rooms are booked, we get our room that night for free.  Also, the ones we went through offer a free shuttle if it is within 5 miles of the hotel, we were able to negotiate for them to transport guests to and from the wedding for a very small fee.  HTH!

alschmid

kb - which Hiltons did you go with?

lcarp - sounds like you have some good questions there.  I need to get on this as well.  Probably work on this next week

tly523

I used hotelplanner.com.  It's a free online service that allows you to enter your requirements.  And then the hotels submit their bids.  If you like a particular hotel's bid, you can schedule a site visit to come check out the hotel.  It saves you a lot of time.

lcarp203

Thanks for the info KB!  I will keep that in mind.  I think right now there are a few Hiltons on our list.

tly523-  I am also using hotelplanner.com!  And, I am finding it to be very helpful!  I was trying to contact them all by phone, but with working the typical 9-5, it was very difficult as this is when most hotel sales managers also work!  So, I decided to try hotel planner.  I have eliminated about 80 of the offers!  Now, I have about 5 to choose from.  I want to only have 2-3 options.  I just emailed the sales managers last night with the remaining questions that were not addressed on the hotel planners bid.

alschmid- I would check out hotel planner!  I have not gone through the entire process of booking the hotels, but so far, it has been a great service and website!

kb5432

We went with the new Hampton Inn and Suites and Homewood Suites in Chandler.

lcarp203

KB-

I am in the process of working with Homewood Suites right now.  They just sent me over a contract and they are asking for my CC to hold the room rates.  Everything prior to this was stating that I would not be held responsible for any unbooked rooms.  I questioned the lady who I am working with at Homewood Suites and she said it is just standard to hold the rooms.  I fee very unsure about providing them with my CC number.

I am also working with Gainey Suites In Scottsdale and they held the rooms no problem and no contract.

Did you have to provide a CC with the Hampton Hotels you booked just to hold the room rates?

Thanks for your help!

kb5432

The 2 hotels we blocked are literally right next door to each other so coordinator we are working with works for both hotels.  She said that to hold a room for us, they would need a CC on file so that way they can charge us for OUR room if we don't have 10 of the blocked rooms booked for the free room.  We do have a contract, but it states in the contract that we are not responsible for the cost of any rooms that don't get booked and that they will be released 3 weeks before the event date.  

ETA: So I would think, if you aren't booking a room for yourself at that hotel, you shouldn't need to provide a CC just to get that rate.  

lcarp203

KB- Thanks for the help.  I contacted 2 Hilton properties.  One needed the CC and other did not.  The other non Hilton property also did not require a CC.  So, I contacted the one hotel that was requiring it and told them that we were not comfortable with providing the information as per the contract we were not responsible for any unbooked rooms and that we had other hotels that were not requiring a CC.  The came back and said they would no longer require one.  So, in the end I think it is all going to work out. 

We are booking with 2 Hiltons and one other resort!

applemarie

Thanks ladies for this idea of hotelplanner and the questions are great! I just found my hotel  today! I am so excited!  We are getting married in Mesa and I wanted my guests to stay in Tempe.  So I found a hotel that has airport shuttle and then I asked about them about shuttling my guests to the wedding and he will do it for me and put it in the contract! The shuttle already does a complimentary within 5mi so my guests will access to downtown Tempe and downtown Scottsdale and since my wedding is about 8 mi from the hotel they are going to do it for me! How awesome and convenient for my OOT guests!  They won't even need to rent a car!

It's also a HAmpton Inn Suites by the 202 and Scottsdale Rd.