Are you getting your stay for free or getting any other perks?

[Jennybell1]

My TA didnt mention any perks...huh....I think I need to find another one!

[amybermuda]

I am glad at least I am not the only one with a dud travel agent. She is a one person shop and totally clueless.

 

We are getting absolutely nothing in perks. I am going to go to my hotel directly to see what they can do.

 

Does anyone know if you can switch TAs midway through? Could I transfer all of our reservations to someone else? My TA actually said to the tour operator yesterday on the phone "My client thinks you can negotiate better rates for her because she is booking 15-20 rooms at the hotel. This is not something you can do, correct?" Even the tour Operator was a little taken aback and told her they can look for promotions and offer rate matches.

 

I really need to ditch this lady like a bad habit!

[Meyer2010]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amybermuda I am glad at least I am not the only one with a dud travel agent. She is a one person shop and totally clueless. We are getting absolutely nothing in perks. I am going to go to my hotel directly to see what they can do. Does anyone know if you can switch TAs midway through? Could I transfer all of our reservations to someone else? My TA actually said to the tour operator yesterday on the phone "My client thinks you can negotiate better rates for her because she is booking 15-20 rooms at the hotel. This is not something you can do, correct?" Even the tour Operator was a little taken aback and told her they can look for promotions and offer rate matches. I really need to ditch this lady like a bad habit!

Oh no... get a new TA fast!!! This is a bad sign. Everyone knows you get perks when you have booked multiple rooms. You are bringing lots of business to the resort you are staying in. They will find a way to compensate you. Even if it for spa credit or money off rooms!

You have plenty of time to find a new TA!

Good Luck!

~ Erica

[JenniferSS]

TA Maureen is absolutely correct- I would love for all of you to post how long your guests are staying and we'd see that the candians range from a full week to possiblly two/US guests stay on average 3 nights.

 

For a 3 night stay for a group you will likely not get the free room -especially if your dates are over a weekend as it then leaves the resort with empty rooms the rest of the week ( most ppl vacation 5-7 nights, starting on a Saturday-very few ppl start travel on a Monday or Tuesday that ='s empty rooms till the next Saturday.)

 

Hotels/resorts also look at total of room nights as opposed to how many rooms. So a group traveling for 7 nights with 10 rooms generates 70 pd nights, with no empty rooms afterwards.

 

A group of 10 roooms traveling 3 nights is generates 30 paid nights with a strong possibility of 40 nights left open- it actually becomes a negative booking situation for the hotel/resort. So no they will not offer additional perks.

 

It also depends on the resort itself- some offer much better amenities for DW's.

 

Add into that time of year- low season offers greater opportunity for additional amenities. High season- not so much. Traveling to Beaches for a Dw in the fall- you get a free reception- the 75.00 value one! That's a huge perk!

 

And as Maureen mentioned- if you do not use a group contract then you generally will not get the additional amenities. Of course that depends on the hotel!

 

I've had group contracts at the same resort-but that offered completely different amenities & perks! It depended on all of the above factors. So it isn't always that the TA is not doing their job! Each contract is unique and no two are alike!

[Meyer2010]

All our guests are staying one week! It might be worth checking with your resort directly. The WC at my resort sent me the wedding packages. I understand all resorts are different. But definitely do your homework, it doesn't hurt to ask the resort directly!

 

Good Luck!

[Geralyn]

We got upgraded to a suite but the didn't want to give it to us...we had to really talk them into it

[TammyWright]

To add what maureen and jennifer have said, these rooms/packages have to be booked with the same TA or contract rate and so even though you have x-amount of rooms booked if they are booked via internet companies they may not apply to the room count.

 

By negotiating with the resort directly you are losing a lot of leverage that a TA has since we use wholesalers that book a lot more volume than an individual wedding so we have a lot more leverage. I can usually negotiate better rates and perks than you could directly.

[amybermuda]

It's not the deal that bothers me, its my TA saying to the tour operator, "correct me if I am wrong, but you cannot get any better prices that this, right?"

 

Who negotiates like that??!!

[yesther]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amybermuda It's not the deal that bothers me, its my TA saying to the tour operator, "correct me if I am wrong, but you cannot get any better prices that this, right?" Who negotiates like that??!!

SUCKS. Totally an annoying way to make deals!!!

[SuzyQ76]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaM We are getting free perks as well. With 10 rooms booked we get a free cocktail hour and 2 nights free for bride & groom With 20 rooms booked we get a free reception and 5 nights free for bride & groom With 25 rooms we gets free unlimited private events and 7 nights free for bride & groom All of our guests also recieve $300 credit-$150 toward the spa and $150 toward golf if they book 3 nights and buy one get one free ATV tour or swim with the dolphins. And this is through what the resort offers. Out TA has been very helpful in telling guests this so they book extra nights and get their perks as well as help us with ours.

Wholly crap!! Who did you book through - and if you explained it in a later post sorry...I'll get to it in a bit!
We're traveling from Canada too and we're getting didly squat!!