Hotel Room Block

Re: Hotel Room Block

• [Deleted User] member

  

  August 2012

  I would work on your room block about 6 mths out.  Make sure you block more than you think you need (that is if they don't charge you for the rooms if they are not booked).  I under counted & only blocked 15 rooms.  After we talked with a bunch of our guests who were said they were coming, they kept saying they were going to get a room - many were ppl I never expected to stay overnight since they live close by.  I called the hotel to add more rooms & found out our hotel was totally booked (2 other wedding blocks besides my own) & I was scared to death that I was going to have to find a second hotel & hire another shuttle bus.  Luckily 5 more rooms became available about 6 weeks out & then another 10 or so became available 1 mth out.  Most hotels release the rooms that are in the room blocks that don't get booked 1 mth prior to the event.  These rooms are then available for anyone to book. 
  
  The hotel was the worst part of my planning & if you read some of the "month" boards you will see the girls all seem to complain about this part of it.  If this is a popular time for conventions or nearby popular wedding venues, then maybe contact them a little sooner.
  Good luck.

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• LADY324

  

  August 2012

  My thought is book early!!  If you know your wedding date and where you want to stay you might as well book it!
  
  We used the fairfield executive inn on route 46 in fairfield they also included a shuttle and breakfast the rooms were nice and they were only $99 bucks.

  

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• KMasker member

  

  August 2012

  Book now that way you don't have to worry about it and yes you can negotiate but make sure you do your home work first. Call a couple other hotels near by and see what the rates are.

  

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• sh228955 member

  

  August 2012

  You can definitely do it now. We did it about 1 year in advance. It worked out well because we were able to include the hotel info in the Save the Date. Many of our guests booked already, and we will be able to have a good idea of whether or not we need to add rooms before we send out our invitations. It is standard to see the rooms before you book so don't worry about asking! They will give you a full hotel tour before you do the room block. Good luck!

  

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• jcg98 member

  

  August 2012

  Another reason to book early - you can lock in the 2012 pricing for the block!   We booked in Oct. 2010 for Nov. 2011, and that saved our guests about $10/room.
  
  I don't have any experience with the Hyatt.  We used the Hanover Marriott on Route 10, loved the new renovations, the vibe, the huge lobby area for hanging out, and the Irish pub! 
  
  When you make an appointment to see the hotel, they will show you a room or two.
  

   
    
  

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• shannyb41 member

  

  August 2012

  Thank you everyone!  I'll start calling the hotels in the area.  Our venue is in Montville so that leaves us with a ton of options for hotels. 
  
  My other reason for wanting to do this now is to include the informatino in our save the dates...we have quite a few out of town guests so I would like to make the information available to them.  I don't know how soon people plan on making travel arrangements so I just want to make sure they have everything.
  
  jcg, I actually really like the Hanover Marriott!  Its pretty much across the street from my office hahaha.  I stayed there a few years ago after a company holiday party...we really enjoyed ourselves at the irish pub (maybe a little TOO much lol). 

  

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• jcg98 member

  

  August 2012

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_hotel-room-block?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:ac7b2361-d165-4d16-85fb-de9ae8d0464dPost:c49a7c28-6f72-4eb8-931c-9b287abb1203">Re: Hotel Room Block</a>:
  [QUOTE]Thank you everyone!  I'll start calling the hotels in the area.  Our venue is in Montville so that leaves us with a ton of options for hotels.  My other reason for wanting to do this now is to include the informatino in our save the dates...we have quite a few out of town guests so I would like to make the information available to them.  I don't know how soon people plan on making travel arrangements so I just want to make sure they have everything. <strong>jcg, I actually really like the Hanover Marriott!  Its pretty much across the street from my office hahaha.  I stayed there a few years ago after a company holiday party...we really enjoyed ourselves at the irish pub (maybe a little TOO much lol). 
  </strong>Posted by shannyb41[/QUOTE]
  
  LOL.  Have you been in there since they reno'd?  It's really gorgeous.  We want to go back there some weekend just to enjoy it!

   
    
  

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• Danes983 member

  

  August 2012

  Try and negotiage free rooms into your contract.  For example if you have a lot of ooo people staying, see if hey wll give you a free room for every 15 you book, that way you and try and get your parents rooms free.. It never hurts to ask.

  
  

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• shannyb41 member

  

  August 2012

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_hotel-room-block?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:ac7b2361-d165-4d16-85fb-de9ae8d0464dPost:790fe843-f929-4702-a3db-eba621b47818">Re: Hotel Room Block</a>:
  [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Hotel Room Block : LOL.  Have you been in there since they reno'd?  It's really gorgeous.  We want to go back there some weekend just to enjoy it!
  Posted by jcg98[/QUOTE]
  
  No, I don't think so.  I was there in..hmm...2008?  haha
  We really liked it...that was def another place I was going to look into.

  

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• shannyb41 member

  

  August 2012

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_hotel-room-block?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:ac7b2361-d165-4d16-85fb-de9ae8d0464dPost:361de79a-fda3-46cb-831e-4f282a3bbf8b">Re: Hotel Room Block</a>:
  [QUOTE]Try and negotiage free rooms into your contract.  For example if you have a lot of ooo people staying, see if hey wll give you a free room for every 15 you book, that way you and try and get your parents rooms free.. It never hurts to ask.
  Posted by Danes983[/QUOTE]
  
  Great idea, I'll try that!  I know the Hyatt would give me fiance and I our room for free...but it would be great if I could try to get a free room for my parents.  I wouldn't have even thought to ask that.  Thanks!

  

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• mandy10er

  

  August 2012

  Hi! I think you are a LVC bride too. We did our hotel room block at the Hyatt Morristown. They offer a shuttle, but no breakfast. But, Morristown is cute and people can just walk across the street for our rehearsal dinner, so we don't have to worry about their transportation. They let us see the rooms and gave us a tour of the hotel. We did negotiate the rate down. Good luck!!

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• Giaspo member

  

  August 2012

  Hi! Definitely don't wait to book your room block and stay on top of it. Ours would only hold 10 rooms at a time, and when that filled up they would open up another 10, etc. We had more people stay than anticipated. We negotiated a free brunch the morning after which saved us having to pay lol.

  
  

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• lconoran member

  

  August 2012

  I'm an Oct. 2013 bride as well and we have already set up our contract with the hotel! They technically can't block the rooms until 1 year out (we are at the Marriot in Mount Arlington) but the coordinator we are working with has been very sweet and really good with communication. When I was calling around, they (both hotels we looked into) immediately said, ok we'll set up a time and show you all the styles of rooms and go through every option, which they did. So that is definitely something to expect. Also, most hotels only have a few suites. Booking early will ensure you one of these (hopefully). At least for us, we plan to have one of us staying in the suite the night before the wedding and getting ready so it makes for a more comfortable fit once photogs and bridal party start to arrive, if we have a suite.
  
  Also, LOVE the Auld Shebeen! Restaraunt.com always has gift certificates for them and we use them regularly whether it's just 2 of us (about a month ago FI surprised me with a nights stay at the hotel and we had quite a few drinks and munchies at the bar ) or the whole family! Check it out when/if you return ladies.

  

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• christin228

  

  August 2012

  Hotels usually have wedding room block packages already set up, so check with them.  My hotel's room block rate is $15 cheaper than their standard rate (I checked online), and includes strawberries and champagne for our room, and our room is free if our guests book 20 rooms (though we knew we weren't going to reach that).
  
  They also usually have a deal for breakfast the next day (mine has 20% off).
  
  
  Also, check to see if they will be at any upcoming bridal shows, because sometimes they give special deals at the shows that they don't normally offer.
  
  And I agree with pp's - if you already knwo your date and location, set it up now.
  
  Good luck!

  Click Here for My DIY Bio
  
  

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• sgdc2011 member

  

  August 2012

  We booked our hotel room block August 2010 for july 2011 wedding.  They wouldn't let us book any earlier than that.  We definitely asked to see the rooms, we narrowed it down based on that becauase some of the rooms were disgusting.  ALso, check to see if they have a free shuttle.  Our hotel put the price of a limo bus into the hotel rooms, so it was free for us, but we just told our guests the room included transportation and breakfast the next morning (which we paid for). 
  
  You can put as many rooms on hold as you want usually but then you are responsible for 80% of the rooms (this was from Marriott so yours might be different) if they weren't booked by a certain date.  We told our guests the deadline to book the rooms was 15 days before the actual date so we could release rooms at no penatly to us.
  
  Good luck!

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• DeniseH33 member

  

  August 2012

  I book my hotel block rooms in january for my september wedding. Im using the ramada and have rooms under $100 per night free parking and breakfast voucher. I did not want my guest spending alot on hotels rooms. If possible try to get hotel within good distance to the venue.

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