El Dorado Group Rate negotiations! errr!

Hey,

 

I'm getting frustrated with Karisma. I have been in contact with their Reservations department to arrange a group rate for my guests. They are giving me the rack rate, minus 10%. Thats works out to be approximately $350/night in June 2009. I feel like they are not giving the guests much of a break, and I just found a deal online for 2008 bookings at luxurytraveloutlets.com for just $273/night. I'm concerned if I go through the effort to book the group rate some guests could find a better deal online. I have also read from other posts that the price of staying one of their resorts can go up a lot, so maybe booking the group rate is the right way to go.

 

I know that you all have a lot of experience with this dilemma. I need your advice. Also, anyone who has negotiated a group rate with Karisma please directly let me know what you did, and how much they discounted you off the group rate?

 

Thanks so much,

 

Britt

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t19177

 

Do you know about all the problems they create for their brides with outside vendors? Might want to consider another hotel. Unless you planned on using the resort photographer. People have gotten around it, but it is getting harder every day it sounds like.

I have found that it is cheaper not to negoiate a group rate. There are so many sales that go on throughout the year that most people can find a better rate on their own.

I agree- we didn't do a group rate- my guests were able to find really good deals online-....

yikes! it does sound like karisma hotels can be a pain. sorry you are going through this. are you dead set on them? i know there are other beautiful hotels in the area you can look at.

Or- instead of going directly through Karisma-- you could look at getting a travel agent, and using their rates? We used a travel agent, and some of our guests booked through her and some just booked on their own, but at least we had a TA available for our guests, if they wanted to use her....

We also used a travel agent and I believe she ended up getting them pretty good rates. Not only that, but she made our whole wedding planning process run SO smoothly there. She has a lot of contact with EDR and the wedding coordinators, so PM me if you want her contact info.

That's a good point. I have been following that discussion. Unfortunately because my FI and I are on such a tight budget we may be cutting the nice photography, and might go cheap by using the cheasy house photographer. I hate to do it, but we'd really like to save that 3G's for a house, instead of our wedding photos. Plus my creative photographer friend is going to shoot pictures of us "as a guest" and hopefully that will supplement for the lame photos the hotel might take. Still might be nice to have the option to have an outside vender though - i hate the idea that if I could restle up some extra cash we would be able to hire an outside vendor!

I think there is seriously something wrong with the karisma management. They seem to make everything difficult that we've dealt with so far. I just get the overall feeling that their management practices are soley motivated by money and not be a desire to please their guests. Don't the realize that if the work with people guests will respect that and give them repeat business!?

Britt

These are just my priorities, so you might feel completely different, but I'd much rather have a cheaper hotel & a great photographer. There are so many amazing hotels in RM that are much more affordable for rooms & receptions. They may not be as beautiful as EDR though. It really depends on your priorities. I picked a hotel where rooms are $90 per person per night & the reception & ceremony are very affordable. The hotel is still very nice because it's a resort (you get much more for your money in mexico), but it's not as beautiful as EDR. Still, a great photographer will find the beautiful spots & make the pictures amazing. The hotel guys rarely return good work. There is also the matter of they are mistreating brides & don't deserve your business.

If you have fallen in love with this property we can't blame you. It is amazing. But, it is something to strongly consider.

1. the $273 per night from the internet rate did not include taxes...when i priced it out on that site it came to $401.57 per night.

2. usually travel agents can negotiate a lower group rate.

3. 2009 rates are usually going to be higher than 2008 rates