Is anyone using a travel agent for their Palace Resorts wedding group bookings?

Curious how everyone chose to handle the group bookings for their travel. Did you just go through the hotel directly and sign their group contract?

I was originally going to do so, but the group rate they gave me is pretty ridiculous. This is what I was given for November 2013 (SLOW season)

According to this, a room with 2 adults would be $382. On expedia, you can get the same room for $350. Also, if you book direct, by the chart above, 4 adults in a room would cost $688 where on Expedia - it's still just $350. Everywhere else charges PER ROOM, not per person.

I hate to ask people to pay more money to go thru the hotel directly, but with a planned guest attendance of 100+, I need to make sure I earn the 75 room night benefits, and still allow everyone to get their resort credits, etc.

So can I use a travel agent instead and are their rates more in line with Expedia/cheap caribbean? Are you still able to earn the function benefits/upgrades? Has anyone tried asking for a better group rate direct from the hotel?

Hi,

I'm getting married on 11/22/13 and those were the rates I was given. I also thought it was a bit pricey but that was the best rate that our travel agent was able to get us. Hope that helps!

You might want to try one of the BDW Travel Agents.  We Specialize in Destination weddings and are an ONYX level agency with them.  

Also, November is not the slow season in Mexico.  I compared the rates you were quoted to another Moon Palace wedding we have in November and our rates are quite a bit lower.

Regarding group blocks and amenities: you only get them on bookings made through the group block.  Expedia, orbitz bookings will not count towards your group amenities.  In fact, even if you book a wedding at a palace resort and qualify for free group amenities like a cocktail hour, etc. your guests that did not book through the group block would have to pay to attend your events.  The free events are only FREE for your guests that have booked via the group block contract.

For more info, you can contact us:  Contact a Destination Wedding Specialist HERE

You can read some of our reviews here: Wright Travel Agency ~ Destination Wedding Specialist Reviews HERE

Originally Posted by Tammy Host 

 

You might want to try one of the BDW Travel Agents.  We Specialize in Destination weddings and are an ONYX level agency with them.  

 

Also, November is not the slow season in Mexico.  I compared the rates you were quoted to another Moon Palace wedding we have in November and our rates are quite a bit lower.

 

Regarding group blocks and amenities: you only get them on bookings made through the group block.  Expedia, orbitz bookings will not count towards your group amenities.  In fact, even if you book a wedding at a palace resort and qualify for free group amenities like a cocktail hour, etc. your guests that did not book through the group block would have to pay to attend your events.  The free events are only FREE for your guests that have booked via the group block contract.

 

For more info, you can contact us:  Contact a Destination Wedding Specialist HERE

 

You can read some of our reviews here: Wright Travel Agency ~ Destination Wedding Specialist Reviews HERE

Thanks Tammy! I was actually just at Moon Palace last week and did a site tour/inspection with both the sales manager and wedding coordinator. They both told me November (early - before Thanksgiving) was the end of their low season as that is when hurricane season officially ends (end of Nov).

Regardless, I appreciate the insight on pricing and how bookings work. I am very interested in using your agency to assist in planning my wedding. I in contact with Virgilia currently - is this the correct person?

Thanks again!!

Originally Posted by JeanaBeena 

 

Thanks Tammy! I was actually just at Moon Palace last week and did a site tour/inspection with both the sales manager and wedding coordinator. They both told me November (early - before Thanksgiving) was the end of their low season as that is when hurricane season officially ends (end of Nov).

 

Regardless, I appreciate the insight on pricing and how bookings work. I am very interested in using your agency to assist in planning my wedding. I in contact with Virgilia currently - is this the correct person?

 

Thanks again!!

Hi there,

We are going through a travel agent and those prices actually seem pretty in line with what we are being quoted. Also, don't forget that it is an all-inclusive resort, and so there is a per person charge as a result. Expedia and other travel websites sometimes offer different deals than you will get through the resort directly. Same thing with travel agents - the resorts sell the different tour companies different blocks of rooms to work with at different rates. When we were booking our initial trip to check out the resort as a possible venue, we went through Expedia, and we found a wicked good deal for the Nizuc section, only to call Expedia and find out that the deal was NOT all-inclusive. Upon calling Moon Palace directly we were informed that Expedia had their information wrong because the resort is all-inclusive no matter how you book it. I have no idea what the mix-up was with Expedia (since they are usually so on point and we use them for almost all of our domestic travel plans), but I just thought I would share that story since it was a weird little hiccup that we encountered. 

Jeana, What did you end up doing? I'm looking into Moon Palace now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeanaBeena 
 

Curious how everyone chose to handle the group bookings for their travel. Did you just go through the hotel directly and sign their group contract?

 

I was originally going to do so, but the group rate they gave me is pretty ridiculous. This is what I was given for November 2013 (SLOW season)

 

 

 

All Inclusive		AUG 25/13 - DEC 23/13
Room Type	SGL	DBL	TPL	QUA	5th.	6th.	CHL
Superior Deluxe - Garden View	343	191	178	172			61
Superior Deluxe - Ocean View	365	202	189	183			61

 

 

According to this, a room with 2 adults would be $382. On expedia, you can get the same room for $350. Also, if you book direct, by the chart above, 4 adults in a room would cost $688 where on Expedia - it's still just $350. Everywhere else charges PER ROOM, not per person.

 

I hate to ask people to pay more money to go thru the hotel directly, but with a planned guest attendance of 100+, I need to make sure I earn the 75 room night benefits, and still allow everyone to get their resort credits, etc.

 

So can I use a travel agent instead and are their rates more in line with Expedia/cheap caribbean? Are you still able to earn the function benefits/upgrades? Has anyone tried asking for a better group rate direct from the hotel?

I'm having this same problem now I want my guests to book through our group contract but they are finding the trip at least $420 dollars cheaper through expedia.  The problem with this is that then we would have to pay for them to attend all the private events and their stay would not be counted towards the free amenities.  So if we have a welcome party, rehearsal dinner, cocktail hour and reception that comes out to $320 we would have to pay per couple for them to attend.  I don't want to tell a guest who asks no they can't book through expedia if its such a big difference.  Right now the flights are at a good price so that's why I think Expedia room/flight package is so cheap but not all guests are booking at this moment and are willing to pay the whole amount of their trip now to get the better deal.  One guests has asked us if they can book through expedia for their 4 day trip since they would be saving around $400 so I need to figure out if we should pay the difference so that we match Expedia and have them counted towards the wedding group contract or just let them book on their own.  I don't want to turn people off and have them pay more to do it our way because then they will probably not want to come.  I'd be willing to pay the difference for this one couple because its my fiance's brother and wife and this could be considered their Bestman gift but uh I hope this doesn' t come up with other guests.  Need to figure out what works out better in the end for us paying the difference and having their stay count towards our free amenties or letting them just book on their own. 

Has anyone determined how to handle booking with their guests? I'm afraid none of mine will book through my TA because they see the prices so much cheaper on sites like Expedia. If they book through Expedia but are at the same resort, will I still be charged for each to attend the wedding/reception? We do not anticipate a large number of people attending and several have children who will also be attending. I am trying to be respectful of costs. Thanks and I appreciate all of the information shared on this thread!

Just want to bump this thread.  I was told by my wedding specialist at destiantionweddings.com that the group pricing would generally be cheaper than online rates.  It doesn't make sense for the hotel to charge more for group if we're booking a bunch of their rooms...

My Fiancé and I are getting married on August 16th, 2014 at the Palace.

We encouraged our guests to book through their website, however they can go to TA they choose. They do not have "group rates" however their rates are by far the best. Guests can book airfare, hotel and travel accommodations. We also created our own online wedding website with hyperlinks to help our guests! I hope that helps. I’m not trying to hock it because he works there, but they truly are the best rates!