Huge deposit at hotel-PLEASE advice/experience?

okay ladies I am about to book at azul and have about 60 guests coming. In order to prebook the rooms (there are only 98 rooms in the whole hotel so I need to make sure guests have a room) my travel agent is telling me I have to put a deposit down of 200.00 dollars a person which will be charged to my credit card and then returned once the room are actually booked by the guests. Do the math....12,000 dollars. what is your ladies experience with putting deposits down to prebook rooms??

I did not have to do this. I have 65+ guests coming and they each had to put down a deposit with my TA to reserve their spot, but she hasn't even given a deposit to the RIU yet. She said their deposit was more so she knew who was really serious and committed to coming. She somehow has reserved a block of rooms, but the deposit isn't due for a few months. I'm not sure how TAs work, but this seems like a good deal to me as I would be very nervous putting that much money down!

My TA adviced me against signing a contract (prebooking) with the resort for my guests. So we only put down deposits for ourselves, gave TA info to all the guests and let them do their own booking.

I would definitely NOT do this. I have never heard of putting down a deposit for all the guests going. What if they don't go?? Definitely tell your TA you would like to do it another way or definitely get another TA!!!

I agree that $200 per person sounds too high! I do have a contract with my resort and we only put down a 10% deposit for a 20 room reservation. We plan to get that back as our guests reserve their rooms though. We paid about $2,400 for the deposit.

sh*t...i totally responded and the server went down.

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Originally Posted by lovefreddy okay ladies I am about to book at azul and have about 60 guests coming. In order to prebook the rooms (there are only 98 rooms in the whole hotel so I need to make sure guests have a room) my travel agent is telling me I have to put a deposit down of 200.00 dollars a person which will be charged to my credit card and then returned once the room are actually booked by the guests. Do the math....12,000 dollars. what is your ladies experience with putting deposits down to prebook rooms??

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Originally Posted by Lizz I did not have to do this. I have 65+ guests coming and they each had to put down a deposit with my TA to reserve their spot, but she hasn't even given a deposit to the RIU yet. She said their deposit was more so she knew who was really serious and committed to coming. She somehow has reserved a block of rooms, but the deposit isn't due for a few months. I'm not sure how TAs work, but this seems like a good deal to me as I would be very nervous putting that much money down!

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Originally Posted by Adamsgrrl I agree you should not have to prebook for anyone other than yourselves. If you do you will be responsible for those guests who decide not to come. Tell your TA you will not do this. She should have an alternative. If not, don't use her.

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Originally Posted by IrieBride08 I agree that $200 per person sounds too high! I do have a contract with my resort and we only put down a 10% deposit for a 20 room reservation. We plan to get that back as our guests reserve their rooms though. We paid about $2,400 for the deposit.

there are pros and cons to a group block and you really need to assess your situation and group to see what the best route for you is. i never tell my clients to go one way or another and try to talk and counsel them to see what will work best for their situation.

Dreams Tulum also wanted $200 per person to block rooms. We decided against it and just had our guest book as they wanted, with the risk of not having a room at our hotel.