Hotel blocks

lnozzy

I'd appreciate any insight on this, as I'm not quite sure what to do.

We are having our wedding at a local hotel, and so we have a specified number of rooms we can block for a discounted rate. But, since the price is over $100 per night, I'm worried that some guests might think this price is too high. Should I block rooms at a lower priced hotel, and include information for both on the STD's? Or do I just list the blocking at our hotel and let people figure it out? My mother and FH are of the second opinion. 

Any thoughts? 

batfacepattermonth

I think you don't necessarily have to block rooms at a second hotel, but it would be nice if you mentioned on the accommodations card some names of other budget hotels in the area.

dumdumfroggie

I'd just book for the first one since your wedding is actually there.  People will book cheaper accomodations on their own if needed.

maribeth721

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_hotel-blocks-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:188d8b89-1a47-4ff8-b25f-84a4c0b69de7Post:b6afe000-5819-4512-b72a-1626d9abe4e6">Re: Hotel blocks</a>:
[QUOTE]I'd just book for the first one since your wedding is actually there.  People will book cheaper accomodations on their own if needed.
Posted by dumdumfroggie[/QUOTE]

Agreed. It makes more sense to block where you're having the reception. This also makes for no drinking and driving for your guests. If you want to include a slip of other hotels in the area thats fine, but I wouldn't book 2 hotels. Most of the hotels I talked to about blocking rooms made me guarantee the number which meant I would be responsible for paying for the rooms that did not get booked. We only have a couple out of town guests that will not be staying with family so we opted not to block off rooms.

Birdie1483

I agree with the others. Just book at your wedding hotel. You can list other hotels on a wedding website if you have one.

aragx6

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_hotel-blocks-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:188d8b89-1a47-4ff8-b25f-84a4c0b69de7Post:1a235354-d6f8-4846-9d77-f9790843e9a7">Re: Hotel blocks</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Hotel blocks : Really?  Is this the norm?
Posted by edielaura[/QUOTE]

Depends on the area. It appeared to be about half and half with the hotels I called in St. Louis -- I think particularly because the Brewers are in town that weekend and the downtown hotels will definitely be somewhat busy.

Unless the rooms at your reception hotel were upwards of $200 I wouldn't worry about it too much. Most of the cheaper hotel lines -- Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson etc. don't seem to do blocks anyway. your budget guests can find something pretyy easily I'd imagine.

StephBeanWed61502

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_hotel-blocks-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:188d8b89-1a47-4ff8-b25f-84a4c0b69de7Post:1a235354-d6f8-4846-9d77-f9790843e9a7">Re: Hotel blocks</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Hotel blocks : Really?  Is this the norm?
Posted by edielaura[/QUOTE]

My hotel (where I'm having my wedding) makes you "guarantee" 50% of the rooms blocked, so if you blocked, say, 10 rooms, you have to take/pay for at least five, even if your guests only book three.  I haven't encountered a place that put us on the hook for 100% of the rooms, but some sort of guaranteed minimum or other payment was required wherever we looked in my area.

Justpeachy4397

$100 per night seems pretty reasonable so you will be OK with just blocking at that one hotel if you want. But, it's also fine to block at more than one hotel to give varying price points if you do not have to guarantee any of the rooms. I have room blocks at 3 different hotels, all at different price points, and am not on the hook for any.

jsleik

I would ask around to other hotels in the area.  We had blocks of rooms at 3 hotels.  I know guests were spread around at at least 5 hotels in the area.  But at least they got the discount at a few of them.  However, we did not have to pay for anything.  The hotels held rooms for us up until about 2 months before the wedding (a little frustrating since it was right when we sent out invitations), so I made sure I put the info in with our STDs and wrote that it was a popular weekend in our quiet little town so book early.  Most people did and it worked out fine.

But for the hotel you're having the reception at, I would see if there are some VIPs that need rooms and use those to hit your "minimum" and then leverage that into saving some space for other guests.

bmoruzzi

We did blocks at 2 hotels.  The closer one was more expensive.  We didn't have to gaurentee anything.  If you're not on the hook for any unbooked rooms, I would go for it.  Why not?

RaptorSLH

We're not responsible for any costs of my block, but we can only reserve 10 rooms to start with.  We can't block more than that until the first block is full.  A couple of other area hotels do the same.

kalpi108

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_hotel-blocks-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:188d8b89-1a47-4ff8-b25f-84a4c0b69de7Post:60c9d486-d536-4972-b9fd-fc4732cf3d24">Re: Hotel blocks</a>:
[QUOTE]We're not responsible for any costs of my block, but we can only reserve 10 rooms to start with.  We can't block more than that until the first block is full.  A couple of other area hotels do the same.
Posted by RaptorSLH[/QUOTE]

That's how ours works, too.

We're considering a room block at another cheaper hotel in the area; it would be nice but certainly not necessary. We will be listing multiple options on our wedding website.

I would never book a room block at a hotel that would charge me for unused rooms.