negotiating # of rooms booked

[Tammy Host]

Originally Posted by MikkiStreak

Wow! I never heard that. Guess I mis-understood some posts along the way. And I now think I should check with my TA to make sure I'm understanding correctly....

i would check...i would actually ask to see the contract...when you do a group block, you usually sign a contract...just to cover your bases.

[MikkiStreak]

Originally Posted by host

i would check...i would actually ask to see the contract...when you do a group block, you usually sign a contract...just to cover your bases.

Definitely! We haven't done the contract yet because we're waiting for our TA to notify us when she gets the rates. I probably mis-understood her about the $200 deposit for a block of 10 and if so, we'll have to re-think reserving many rooms. Fortunately, the immediate family and wedding party are already calling her to book their trips, so it's not like they are depending on our room block to get/keep the low rate.

So let me ask you this--- For example, when a block of 10 rooms is established at say 160 pp/night and it takes 4 months to book all of those rooms, will that same couple get the same 160 pp/night rate apply to the new block they reserve, or is it subject to negotiation/increase?

[Tammy Host]

Originally Posted by MikkiStreak

So let me ask you this--- For example, when a block of 10 rooms is established at say 160 pp/night and it takes 4 months to book all of those rooms, will that same couple get the same 160 pp/night rate apply to the new block they reserve, or is it subject to negotiation/increase?

of course it all depends on how the contract is structured but usually the rate is fixed whether booked at the beginning of the group block period or the end...the only time it may go up is if you run out of rooms or the booking was done pass the deadline....but even then, if the hotel still has a bunch of rooms left, they will let it slide at your same rate.

[MikkiStreak]

Originally Posted by host

of course it all depends on how the contract is structured but usually the rate is fixed whether booked at the beginning of the group block period or the end...the only time it may go up is if you run out of rooms or the booking was done pass the deadline....but even then, if the hotel still has a bunch of rooms left, they will let it slide at your same rate.

Cool, that helps. If this is the pricing and I misunderstood, maybe I can just block a small number and then add on as needed before the block fills / expires. Thanks Tammy!

[Tammy Host]

Originally Posted by MikkiStreak

Cool, that helps. If this is the pricing and I misunderstood, maybe I can just block a small number and then add on as needed before the block fills / expires. Thanks Tammy!

that is definitely one way to do it...or you can get a new cc w/ 0% interest rate just for the block...then people will book and pay their $$ so your deposit will just go towards paying for your room...when everyone books, the balance of the unused deposit will be creidted back to you...so you are using your cc as a loan.

even better if your cc has miles or rewards.

[gkashmira]

I know a lot of hotels do it differently but here was my experience...

For the Hilton is Cabo we put down I think 10% of the estimated total amount that was going to be paid to hold the rooms. Then as people book their rooms they've been asked to put down one nights stay to guarantee the reservation. In the end our deposit goes towards our master bill for the wedding reception.

[Tammy Host]

Originally Posted by gkashmira

I know a lot of hotels do it differently but here was my experience...

For the Hilton is Cabo we put down I think 10% of the estimated total amount that was going to be paid to hold the rooms. Then as people book their rooms they've been asked to put down one nights stay to guarantee the reservation. In the end our deposit goes towards our master bill for the wedding reception.

that is very standard...the dep. amount is either a percentage or a flat $xxx per room.