Hotel room blocks

ChiGirl2013

So... how do these work?  I've heard some people mention that if you set aside a block of rooms and your guests don't take them, you end up having to pay for the unused rooms in your block.  Is this true?  Does anyone know of hotels that don't make you pay for unused room block rooms?

Also, is there a way to estimate how many rooms you'll need and how many hotels to block rooms in?  Is 2 OK?  We're doing a destination wedding and I have NO IDEA how many people will be coming. It could be 4, it could be 60 - we have absolutely no way of knowing until RSVP's come in, and that will be too late.  I can ask informally, but even then, people may change their minds.

There are also 2 options:
1. Close to the airport, but about 45 minutes to where the wedding & reception will be.  The upside is that it is MUCH cheaper and we do have some guests on a budget.

2.  Close to the ceremony & reception, but nearly double the price of airport hotels.  If we go this route, it's likely we'll have to choose a hotel that we're not familiar with, since the area where everything is located is mostly boutique hotels and B&B's. 

If you were a guest, which would you prefer?

dandelionsgirl

I think that every hotel handles room blocks differently.  I blocked out 10 rooms the night before the wedding and 20 the night of.  I will probably have to make it larger later.  With the Embassy Suites they "release the block" two weeks prior to the wedding so we are not charged for unused rooms.  As long as guests book early it will be fine.  We also get a shuttle for every 6 rooms booked and a free room for us the night of.

As far as your options I would make small room blocks at two hotels.  One with each option giving the guest the option.  You never know what people will want.  

vk2204

I don't know about having to pay for all of the unused rooms, you would have to call each hotel and ask specifically.

As for the location of the hotels, the one furthest from the ceremony specifically, how would the guests get there? Taxi? That would cost a lot of money also. I would give them the option to pick what they want to do.

My FI's sister had a destination wedding in Vegas. Everyone stayed in a different hotel, based off of whatever deal they had at the time of booking.

Unless you can get a super awesome deal with a hotel/shuttle I would let the guests have the option.

Oh, IF you decide to stick with one hotel, they usually will offer a special price if booked by X date if you do block rooms. We went to a wedding back in September and it was $20 off of normal rates, plus shuttle to their location which was about 25 minutes away.

audrewuh

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_april-2013-weddings_hotel-room-blocks?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:820178d7-4f43-4671-bcab-c5c2c01eef1eDiscussion:d463bddf-8d64-46a3-b2e7-8e15a962cbb6Post:ca86eaf0-fa5d-4cf7-8f69-0fee2ec7881e">Hotel room blocks</a>:
[QUOTE]So... how do these work?  <strong>I've heard some people mention that if you set aside a block of rooms and your guests don't take them, you end up having to pay for the unused rooms in your block.  Is this true?</strong>  Does anyone know of hotels that don't make you pay for unused room block rooms? <strong>Also, is there a way to estimate how many rooms you'll need and how many hotels to block rooms in?</strong>  Is 2 OK?  We're doing a destination wedding and I have NO IDEA how many people will be coming. It could be 4, it could be 60 - we have absolutely no way of knowing until RSVP's come in, and that will be too late.  I can ask informally, but even then, people may change their minds. <strong>There are also 2 options:</strong> 1. Close to the airport, but about 45 minutes to where the wedding & reception will be.  The upside is that it is MUCH cheaper and we do have some guests on a budget. 2.  Close to the ceremony & reception, but nearly double the price of airport hotels.  If we go this route, it's likely we'll have to choose a hotel that we're not familiar with, since the area where everything is located is mostly boutique hotels and B&B's.  If you were a guest, which would you prefer?
Posted by ChiGirl2013[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>If you do, that hotel is crap. Don't give them your business. Hotel blocks are complimentary, but be aware that they will be released by a certain date. </div><div>
</div><div>Take a look at your guest list. Who do you think will come? Who will room together? Book that many. </div><div>
</div><div>I would look for two hotels close to the ceremony and reception venues in two different price ranges. That will help out your guests.</div><div>
</div><div>Ask if any of the hotels offer a shuttle service to your venues. That will be a huge plus. </div><div>
</div><div>And remember, you don't HAVE to book hotel blocks now. That usually happens 6 months before. Unless they're included in your contract, like ours were. </div><div>
</div><div>Good luck!</div><div>
</div>

Christine9866

We have put a block on hold already to get it out of the way, and to also get a cheaper rate (there could be a possibility that the later you block the rate might go up) When FI and I put ours on block, the coordinator encouraged me to put 20 hotel rooms on block for the night of the wedding just from her experience working with weddings, and we are not responsible for anything if 20 rooms don't book. There is a cut off date to book a room and receive the discounted rate, then the rooms are released back to the hotel. If we do book 20 rooms FI and I get our suite for free the night of the wedding. Our hotel is 7 minutes from our venue and we are providing a shuttle service to and from the venue. We are only using one hotel for a block at a discounted rate, and if guests want to stay else where it is up to them to find a hotel. We also put 5 hotel rooms on block the night before the wedding, just incase anyone invited to our rehersal dinner decides to just stay over and make a long weekend out of it. I am staying in the suite with my sisters and mother the night before the wedding, and FI and his brothers will be staying in a seperate room.