Another hotel rooms block question..

junelley

I have been trying to find hotel rooms to block but it seems all of them require giving them a credit card number in order to block rooms.  I thought I read that some hotels don't require credit card information, i.e. Hilton and Marriot, but it's not what I am finding.  Also, there is always a 10 room minimum in order to even get the group discount rate.  Does that sound right to you?  I'd like to help my guests get good rates but I worry what if they end up not going with what I picked for them and I end up being responsible for unused rooms; I might as well forget about blocking rooms and let the guests find their own lodging. 

Please share your experience and point me to hotels that don't require credit cards to block rooms!  Thanks!

mcononico

This sounds crazy to me. Which hotel chains are you looking into?
I worked in hotels for years and found that generally most hotels do not require a credit card to block rooms.
They should be happy you are sending your guests to their hotel and should be happy to set up a block for you. Generally a 10 room block is a minimum but it shouldnt mean all 10 rooms have to be picked up in the block.

What city/town are you trying to set up the block?

jilliannoel88

I am using the Courtyard Marriott and I did not give a credit card number.  I signed a rate agreement that simply set forth the number of rooms, the rate each individual will be charged and the date that the hold on the rooms will be released.  I looked into Embassy Suites also and they did not require a credit card either.

jkepros

I didn't have to give a cc either.  I blocked rooms at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Cambridge (by the Cambridgeside Galleria) & the Copley Square Hotel in Boston.

Did you use hotelplanner.com to get quotes?  That's what I used.  It also helped me to negotiate.  We got some awesome deals.  Oh, and neither of the ones I booked had a minimum we had to guarantee.  They basically reserved 10 rooms, and if we book at least 10 nights (5 rooms X2 nights, 10 rooms X1 night, etc) we get perks (like an upgrade for the bride/groom or other party), but if we don't book that many we don't have to pay a fee or anything like that.  Unfilled rooms are released 30 days prior, and extra rooms are on an as needed/available basis.

Make sure it's all spelled out in the contract. 

GL!

junelley

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_massachusetts-boston_another-hotel-rooms-block-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:89Discussion:aab9faca-b792-4059-b1b2-90a9d4b65e42Post:1ddfd871-6543-4907-9a3f-55aaf99db11e">Re: Another hotel rooms block question..</a>:
[QUOTE]This sounds crazy to me. Which hotel chains are you looking into? I worked in hotels for years and found that generally most hotels do not require a credit card to block rooms. They should be happy you are sending your guests to their hotel and should be happy to set up a block for you. Generally a 10 room block is a minimum but it shouldnt mean all 10 rooms have to be picked up in the block. What city/town are you trying to set up the block?
Posted by mcononico[/QUOTE]

We looked at Marriot Courtyard, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, etc..  Right now we are waiting for this HIlton hotel near our venue and it seems to be our last hope for somoene who might not need credit card.  Everywhere we looked required at least 50% -80% attrition.   We are looking at hotels in Waltham.

junelley

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_massachusetts-boston_another-hotel-rooms-block-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:89Discussion:aab9faca-b792-4059-b1b2-90a9d4b65e42Post:162e6dbe-d811-4f08-bd81-29bc23bb5211">Re: Another hotel rooms block question..</a>:
[QUOTE]I didn't have to give a cc either.  I blocked rooms at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Cambridge (by the Cambridgeside Galleria) & the Copley Square Hotel in Boston. Did you use hotelplanner.com to get quotes?  That's what I used.  It also helped me to negotiate.  We got some awesome deals.  Oh, and neither of the ones I booked had a minimum we had to guarantee.  They basically reserved 10 rooms, and if we book at least 10 nights (5 rooms X2 nights, 10 rooms X1 night, etc) we get perks (like an upgrade for the bride/groom or other party), but if we don't book that many we don't have to pay a fee or anything like that.  Unfilled rooms are released 30 days prior, and extra rooms are on an as needed/available basis. Make sure it's all spelled out in the contract.  GL!
Posted by jkepros[/QUOTE]

What you had was what I was expecting - no cc required and no guarantee needed!  But every bid we got (I am using hotelplanner.com!)  requires room minimum guarantee.  Do you know if it's helpful to contact the hotelplanner.com representative?  We did get an email telling us to contact them to help us find a hotel with what we need.  I didn't think it'd be this complicated/difficult. 

So strange!  What am I doing wrong.. hm..

kmt_cas

That sounds awful!  I would definitely not put my neck on the line if I had to pick up the cost on unused rooms.  If I read everything right, you aren't going in and speaking directly with the hotel manager right?  You're using that online site?  I would set up a meeting and talk with the manager personally.  I can't help much with locations since our block is south shore, but I did come across one hotel that told me she needed a minimum, I walked away.  Everyone else set aside a block with the understanding that unused rooms will be released 30 or 60 days out.  See if you'll get better results with the meetings....good luck!

jkepros

OH, yeah, do that (E-mail the rep, I mean).  Once you talk to the person at the hotel they will tell you what you really need.  Sometimes it not like what the hotelplanner.com site says (as far as guarantees, etc).  I'd E-mail the contact person for the hotels you are considering and say that you are interested, but had some questions first (when I did it I E-mailed every hotel we were considering a list of like 25 questions!).  I think they usually provide a number to call too if you prefer the phone (I like E-mail better so that it's in writing and so I can make sure I don't forget anything).  They will explain everything that's required.

Hopefully that will help you out so you aren't frustrated.

junelley

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_massachusetts-boston_another-hotel-rooms-block-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:89Discussion:aab9faca-b792-4059-b1b2-90a9d4b65e42Post:e20b70e2-ca65-47b5-a6cc-49c782708e18">Re: Another hotel rooms block question..</a>:
[QUOTE]OH, yeah, do that (E-mail the rep, I mean).  Once you talk to the person at the hotel they will tell you what you really need.  Sometimes it not like what the hotelplanner.com site says (as far as guarantees, etc).  I'd E-mail the contact person for the hotels you are considering and say that you are interested, but had some questions first (when I did it I E-mailed every hotel we were considering a list of like 25 questions!).  I think they usually provide a number to call too if you prefer the phone (I like E-mail better so that it's in writing and so I can make sure I don't forget anything).  They will explain everything that's required. Hopefully that will help you out so you aren't frustrated.
Posted by jkepros[/QUOTE]

We did talk to the each hotel reps directly and they reconfirm the bids on hotelplanner.com, that's why I am so frustrated now.  I was talking about the hotelplanner.com rep who said to contact her.  :(   Gosh, I wonder why they are being so strict with us! 

jkepros

That's really weird.  I know some of our hotelplanner.com bids said that there was a certain minimum, but when we asked they said there wasn't. 

Definitely ask the hotelplanner rep to see if that is a change in policy.  Maybe with the bad economy some places are trying to guarantee income?  I have heard of places doing that (we have had company parties at the Seaport a few times and they always required our company to pay for unbooked rooms in the block, BUT I always thought that that was just for rooms that they continued to block less than the 30 day mark before the event.  Maybe that is one thing to ask about, like if they release the extra rooms by a certain date you don't have to put down a cc or something. 

Very frustrating I am sure!

ebigelow

I also had to put down a cc and have 80% attrition required for our hotel block...it really sucks.  we are somewhat stuck with one hotel because there aren't really any others near our venue.  we put the block in for the minimum number of rooms and they said that we can add to it if we need to if rooms are still available...

fnordess

I've never used hotelplanner.com so I can't speak to how all that works. I just called the hotels directly to ask about rates and policies. I have blocks at the Hyatt Regency Boston and the Parker House and they both didn't require a credit card and won't hold me responsible for any rooms that aren't booked. The only stipulation is that they will release any rooms that haven't been booked by their cut-off date.

junelley

Update: I finally found a hotel that doesn't require us to put down a cc.  This has been really tough for me and I feel like I don't have much choice!  Hope this one works out *fingers crossed*

BostonBride919

I just contacted the hotels directly to set them up and never had to put a CC down.

We did Fairmont Copley Plaza (our venue), Boston Park Plaza, and Club Quarters on Devonshire

KTY7482

I booked the Westin Waltham and I spoke to her last Wednesday and she gave me  good rate, 10 block minimum, no CC. However, she said she would email me the contract and I have yet to see it. I don't know how long they take to do that. Was this the hotel in Waltham you went with? I also called the Hilton next door but their rate was a little more $

emilyjayne3108

My friend had a room block at the Westin in Waltham and they gave her a surprisingly reasonable rate for such a nice hotel.  I don't know what their room block policies are though.  One thing I have found is that some hotels will hold you (the bride and groom) financially responsible for any rooms that are not booked, while others will just release the hold on any rooms that are not booked by 30 days before your wedding.  One thing I was able to do was go back to a hotel that wanted to hold me responsible for rooms that were not booked and negotiate it so that they would release them 30 days before the wedding instead.  I basically told them that if they were going to make me pay for unbooked rooms, I'd take my business elsewhere, and it worked!

junelley

Oh, nice! I thought Hilton's rate was pretty good as is.  I'll have to check out Westin!  Thanks for the new info!! I am going to check it out!

KTY7482

I got $99 for the Westin but she hasn't sent me the contract yet so I'm going to have to call her soon. I don't have many people staying so 10 rooms should be enough but I know you can add last minute if people decide to do things differently Good luck!

blondie82784

Ive gone to a few hotels and looked when i finally booked at the courtyard marriott they never even asked for a cc.

chelley599

I just went through the same thing.  The Marriott told me 10 rooms were ok to book but anything over 10 required a cc and we were resposible for them.   We decided on the wyndham in Andover.  Worked with Jodi.  She was great.  I was able to book however many I wanted with no obligation.  I toured the hotel and she was so helpful