Did you or are you going to try to find hotel group rate for your guests??

maniac0511

I realize that my guests will be speding a lot of money on airfare, hotel, etc to attend my wedding in Wailea.  I want to help them save some money by looking for group rate for airfare and hotel. 

I've been looking at hotel that provide shuttle service around town, that way .. my guests won't have to spend money on renting a car.  Of course, hotel is more pricey than condo, but if we go with condo route, a lot of people will have to rent a car.  With high gas price, it might just even out as staying at the hotel.  Thoughts???

How did you handle your accommodations for your guests???

Tanq&Tonic

We scored a rockin' hotel group rate for our guests.  We had 22 couples in attendance.  They ended up booking 19 rooms!   We also worked with Hawaiian Airlines and  Alaska Airlines to get a group discount -- I think 10% and 7% respectively.  Our guests thanked us repeatedly for those arrangements.

We also posted deals frequently on our website -- we combed the web for specials & promos and posted those as updates.  Those were only somewhat used.  We did not provide rental car discounts.

Also, having a car in Hawaii is a pretty convenient thing. A shuttle is a nice courtesy, but frankly, most activities you might want to do (hiking, restaurants, etc) require some level of driving.  I personally could not survive on a shuttle alone.

sparklegirl84

We also did the Alaska and Hawaiian Air discounts, I think 12 of them so far have used the codes for flights, but most of our guests seem to be booking through expedia or other package deals. I didn't end up doing a group rate for a hotel and nobody has seemed to mind.

kaesha

I think having a car is crucial, regardless of whether you're in a condo or a hotel. We had a group of guests who didn't rent a car for the first week, but were dying being stir crazy so picked one up the second week and couldn't believe what they'd missed out on.

Most of our guests were condo people rather than hotel people (it's weird to categorize - I like having a place that feels homey when I vacation and hotel rooms just don't do it for me), so we found some deals and let our guests do their own thing in terms of booking.

Tanq&Tonic

I think the group rate depends on your area and your guest list.

Wailea is a really expensive area to stay so the rooms were appreciated.  Furthermore, our guests were mostly couples without children staying for just 2-3 days -- those with families did pick condos.  Finally, we hosted a number of events at the hotel - welcome cocktails, RD, Sunday brunch - so some guests thought it was just simpler to stay around.

What does your schedule look like?

maniac0511

We plan on getting to Maui 3-4 days before the wedding.  We will definitely be renting a car, but I don't know how long my guests plan on staying.  We are going to have activities with our guests before the wedding, but after that we will be off onto the honeymoon.

Since most of our guests are from the East Coast, Hawaiian airline doesn't fly to East Coast I think.  But we got discount from American Airline .. so airfare is taken care of.

Fairmont Kea Lani did offer us a group rate of $255 a night, I think it's a great deal, but I think that will be too expensive for most of the guests.  And Grand Champions (condo) gave us $140 a night ... but then .. guests will definitely have to rent a car.

With a small number of guests we are going to invite (mixed of couples, large families, no kid) I think I might just let them book their own thing.

Tanq&Tonic

Well, it sounds like you're doing the right thing for your audience then.  IMO $140 is a rockin' deal and the Grand Champions are NICE!  Depending on the room minimum, I would have signed just to lower my own nightly rate!

sld0618

I did not do a group rate because of different pricing for different people.  I did do the research and refer to specific hotels.  I also had my parents rent a house and all the bridal party will put money towards the house.  It just came out way cheaper and our friends could def afford to go doing it that way.

ShantinaMarie

A lot of our guests used VBRO.com and they are staying at the Grand Champions Condo. For a 1 bedroom studio it was only $110 a night i think and then other people got larger rooms which were $135.00 a night not to bad for people looking to get a good deal on a room if they dont mind the small space?

memegrace

May I ask how did you obtain the group discount rate at Grand Champions!????  I think that is a great price!!  And one room for $110? 

M

destiny1108

We checked into group rates but we would have to commit to at least 10 rooms.  We ended up giving guests different hotel suggestions and let them reserve on their own.

maniac0511

@memegrace - I obtained group rate for grand champions through  www.drhmaui.com. $140 rate is for 1bedroom garden view + 18% tax and resort fee.  However, after looking through  www.VBRO.com ..  you actually can find a cheaper room there.

carrieoz_76

We listed some well-reviewed condo buildings in Kihei on our wedding website.  I found them by looking for the best but also most affordable buildings on the Maui Revealed website.  Most people stayed in condos in Kihei - some in buildings we suggested, an others in buildings they found.  None of our guests would have wanted to spend what it costs to stay in Wailea, even with group rates, so it wouldn't have done me any good to try to go that route.

Because condos are so plentiful and such a great option in south Maui, I think you're fine to not do group rates, but instead make some suggestions about affordable and well-reviewed condo buildings, and leave it at that.

Also, unless your guests are staying with other people who have a car, or only staying for one night (and I'd be shocked if they did - the shortest stay any of our guests had was 5 days), they will want a car.