Boycott El Dorado Royale & Karisma Resorts

[Nic Dragomire]

Originally Posted by Morgan

I don't think it's fair to brides or photographers.

Im not so concerned about it being fair to photographers because Im not the one going to foot the $500 tariff. The bride and groom are going to have to pay it in addition to a photographer fees.

Lets face it EDR saw a another way to stick it to the bride and groom. I wonder who gets the $500. Im sure the hotel photographer won't see a dime.

[jamisoncollette]

Sometimes boycotts are the only thing that will get the attention of a business. Also having the thread as a sticky ensures that it will not get buried and future brides will have quick access to it. One of the reason's FI and I chose a non-resort was because we wanted control over our vendors from food to photography. I am very committed to living as green as possible. I also insist on buying local and my best friend is a celiac. As Heidi found, many resorts cannot cater to special needs diets. So the ability to bring in my own chef capable of serving seven vegetarians, a vegan, and one celiac was very important. Didn't mean to hijack the thread, my vendors preferences were for a slightly different reason than most though I am bringing my own photographer also.

[AnnR]

For those of you that have a problem with this thread, and it's message, I have a question for you ...

How do you think we should go about getting them to change their policies then, if not something as straightforward as a boycott?

[Morgan]

Originally Posted by Nic Dragomire

Im not so concerned about it being fair to photographers because Im not the one going to foot the $500 tariff. The bride and groom are going to have to pay it in addition to a photographer fees.

Lets face it EDR saw a another way to stick it to the bride and groom. I wonder who gets the $500. Im sure the hotel photographer won't see a dime.

It's hurting local photographers though. Brides are flying in photographers to avoid the fee & be able to say they are a friend. It's just one hotel & the local photographers can probably get plenty of business at other hotels. but, if we don't put a stop to it, more hotels could pick up the same policy. It also impacts traveling photographers because when a bride has to pay that $500 fee, that cuts into their photography budget. It also looks like they are trying to increase the restictions so much to not allow any outside photographers. Their policy keeps getting more & more restrictive & expensive.

[Tammy Host]

i hope this does not offend but i think that the edr brides that are upset about this post are being too sensitive. i am not attacking your wedding location. EDR used to be one of my top recommendations...i am against their current policies on outside vendors.

that is it. how else do you let them know you are unhappy with their policy? do you think an email is gonna make them think twice about their policy? probably not...but maybe exposure on a forum that have over 4000 destination wedding brides may...

[Morgan]

Originally Posted by jfwolfe72

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, so mods please feel free to move it to the appropriate place.... I'm scheduled to get married at EDR this month. Luckily, I was "grandfathered" in at just having to pay the $500 fee, (even though it was not in place when I originally booked back in January of 2007) but I let my TA know how outraged I and the other girls on the forum have been since we feel that the resort continues to take advantage of us. Here's the feedback I received from her after she met with the wedding coordinator for Karisma:

"Just got back in late last night. I met with Raphaella for two hours for lunch on Monday. You were right; she is in charge of all weddings at all Karisma resorts and is based out of El Dorado Royale. She really knows her stuff, you’ll be very pleased with her and her staff. She’s been in the business for 25 years & has things running like clock work at each of the Karisma properties. She is very nice, smart as a whip, VERY knowledgeable & VERY organized. She did inform us of their new policy; if a vendor is staying at the resort for three nights they still need to pay $500 BUT it is NOT mandatory for the vendor(s) to stay at the resort for three nights, that is optional but if they do stay they will stay have to pay vs. the past “either or” option. Meaning if the vendor is not staying at the resort the resorts does not require them to do so, they just pay the $500 vendor fee. Raphaella also informed me of something I did not know in the past; I am sure Monica already informed you of this but just in case she didn’t --your vendors will need to show their work permit(s) to the wedding coordinator that you meet with the day after your arrival.

Needless to say we were quite shocked about the new policy as well & wondered if it would affect their destination wedding business but Raphaella and the owners of the properties assure us they feel the policy is need to keep service at its top level. Apparently a lot of unprofessional “uncle whoevers” have been claiming to be professional and are not which consequently turns the big day into a big disaster for the bride and groom. The stories were unbelievable and I can honestly completely see & understand why the resort is implementing this new ruling. But again, not to worry, it does not affect you in any way. I want to assure you & Kevin that I still 100% feel that they really do perform THE BEST job of DWs over any other resort line in Mexico. I am always just thoroughly blown away by their performance and level of service… Once again the resort continues to amaze me, SOOOOOO beautiful & the staff is so on top of everything; service, rooms, food, entertainment, resort grounds, spa… I still give it 2 thumbs up & 6 stars! You won’t be disappointed.

As for your wedding; you are already booked so they will not change anything in your contract. I did address the $48 charge with Raphaella & she explained to me that this fee will not and can not be waived. The reasoning is that the vendors will have the guest day pass so that permits them to eat at any of the restaurants and drink at any of the bars during their time there but not for private events since the resort incurs cost for service, food preparation and set up for each person that attends a private event. She commented that most brides & grooms will allow their vendors to have a break or two throughout the events so they may eat and drink at any of the other restaurants via their guest day pass alleviating cost of the $8 per person cost for both private events. She explained there is no form of negotiating on this policy as the resort incurs the cost & provides the service so they must assess & collect the costs they incur for the service.

I’ve already talked to my friends, Flor Rodridguez (resort’s sales manager) & Sabrina Filatow (Karisma Resorts Director of National Sales) about you & Kevin & your group & they will take great care of you all so please do not worry about a thing. I KNOW you guys will love everything and will have the best time. You will see, you’ll be recommending the resort to everyone when you come back. It will all be sooooo worth it. Promise!! ;-) Let me know if you have any other questions at all. We’re getting closer!!!!"

I just can not believe that is their reason for the fee. To keep unprofessionals from ruining the wedding? They won't let people bring in photographers that are clearly professional. if this was really how they felt, they could have an approved vendors list. Many places do this with caterers, etc.

[Nic Dragomire]

Originally Posted by Morgan

It's hurting local photographers though.

Well the local photographer should get better then. Im spending about $8000. in workshops and seminars in the next 12 months to be a better photographer... If the local photographers kicked a$$ then brides wouldn't be bringing photographers with them.

[Morgan]

Originally Posted by Tammy Host

i hope this does not offend but i think that the edr brides that are upset about this post are being too sensitive. i am not attacking your wedding location. EDR used to be one of my top recommendations...i am against their current policies on outside vendors.

that is it. how else do you let them know you are unhappy with their policy? do you think an email is gonna make them think twice about their policy? probably not...but maybe exposure on a forum that have over 4000 destination wedding brides may...

I think we have noticed on the forum that everyone defends their place. I get upset if someone talks smack about Mexico, Riviera Maya, all-inclusives, Texas, my hometown, my favorite restaurant, etc. I don't mean to, but I can't help feeling a loyalty to places that mean something to me.

So I'm sure it's hard for the EDR brides to see something like this. But, hopefully they understand where it's coming from & it will only make things better for future EDR brides.

Thanks Tammy for taking action. You have a lot of power being the owner of this ever growing forum. I know you will use it well :)

[Tammy Host]

jennifer,

i agree with morgan. i do not believe that is their only reason for implementing this new ploicy...if it was they would do what other resorts have done and have an apporved vendor list...

how does charging this fee to a make-up and hair person impact how the wedding is run? if the bride looks hideous it is going to reflect on the image of the resort? how come they would impose this fee on professionals like sol and elizabeth medina who are absolute professionals and some of the top DW photogs in the business if that is their concern?

[Morgan]

Originally Posted by Nic Dragomire

Well the local photographer should get better then. Im spending about $8000. in workshops and seminars in the next 12 months to be a better photographer... If the local photographers kicked a$$ then brides wouldn't be bringing photographers with them.

no, that's not what I meant at all. The choice is only that one local hotel photographer. You even have to pay the fee to bring in a local photographer. So it's limiting brides to just that one guy. There are some awesome photographers in riviera maya, but EDR brides can't even hire them without paying a fee. So they can try to get around it by flying someone in. I just don't understand why a hotel would want to hurt local business like that.

I'm all for a free market & letting people hire based on price & quality.