OFFICIAL Azul Sensatori Thread

[icoangel78]

I read on trip advisor how all these people that stay there are getting free room upgrades when they check in.

 

how can I get my guests that come to my wedding to get free room upgrades?

[Tiffany Fox]

This was a FANTASTIC idea!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!

[murmel]

I read on trip advisor how all these people that stay there are getting free room upgrades when they check in.

how can I get my guests that come to my wedding to get free room upgrades?

I wish I knew of any tricks, but I don't. Sometimes it is return guests, sometimes they are redoing an area and move guests to better rooms as an apology, brides will usually be upgraded. But I don't think there is anything specific to do or ask for

[mrsgordoncomeondown]

Hello

 

Fellow "SENSATORIANS"!

 

Just looking for some feedback , I feel like I'm drowning here trying to plan our big day. It is May 3 2015.

 

I just started to email back and forth with the WC in Miami, back in May. I just want to see if anyone else is experiencing this with their coordinators, I get that its a massive call center because of the multiple properties that Karisma has, but with my first coordinator, I got very little help. I had no idea what I was supposed to do to get the ball rolling, she didn't explain how anything worked, I asked her some questions and she would give me one sentence answers, than I get an email from another girl who was extremely helpful! I even got the chance to talk to her on the phone and explain to her what kind of "feeling" we were going for, we locked in our menu which I was super pumped on (Taco Bar!) then out of the blue I get a reply from the last email I sent to her.... from a different coordinator. Now since I want to have our reception for more than two hours she's pushing a private dinner event on me. Telling me I have to pick a different menu and so on. The feeling my fiancé and I are going for is really laid back, come and go as you please dance the night away, nothing formal, wedding! We are both really calm laid back people and if I wanted a really formal wedding I'd be getting married at home, that's how I look at it anyways. Our booked guest list is on the large side (80 people so far!) and their private dinner menus are nothing less than 40 dollars a plate. I understand that it takes more people to cook and set up etc. but combined cost for all of us is 150,000$ approx. We're spending a lot of money to be there. For lack of sounding demanding, shouldn't my wish be their command. I just feel like Im getting pushed around a bit. and never really getting a straight answer

I haven't even begun to look into decorations etc.

 

I just need some encouragement. anything will help

 

 

 

[icoangel78]

@@mrsgordoncomeondown

if you have that many guests you need to have a private dinner bc the semi private that's included in the wedding package only includes up to 40 and you have to pay for anyone over 40. plus it's at spoons and you can't choose menu, you eat what is served at the restaurant. sounds like you want specific menu so you need to pay for private menu. also the free semi private reception that is included doesn't include dancing and since you want that then yes you have to have a private dinner.

 

the coordinators in Miami aren't that great but I did just get switched to a new one after their reorganization and she's much better. the hotel is really nice so I don't think it's fair you should have the mentality "my wish is their command" they will work with you but they are a hotel and so if they need to set aside room for your wedding it's only fair you have to pay a little extra. decorations are pretty expensive but it's convenient. if you rather save some money (like me) then you can bring your own decorations.

[kmk2016]

Ok.... First off, the WC department is transitioning to a team approach so it's not unusual to now be hearing from different designers on the team answering your questions.

 

 

It is true that there are private reception packages that are 4 hours and that this is the only way to have something for a group your size and be able to accommodate for that length of time. 80 is a large group- and if originally you were thinking of just having dinner at zocalo terrace, it would still require a private event. I have never heard of a taco bar reception that wasn't a private- and the semi private events where you use spoons for example, don't have any Mexican choices on the menu. If it was first thought you would all just come to zocalo for dinner around the same time and eat off their regular menu, they won't put tables together for you etc,,, and 4 hours would make it impossible for other guests at the resort to utilize this dining space.

 

We have around the same number of guests and we are doing our reception at plaza zavas- a private space and hiring a DJ. Although you are, as you mentioned bringing a lot of $$ to the hotel, they don't look at it like this since it's a popular hotel that reguarly sells out- so they need to have staff and amenities available for the other 150-200 rooms not a part of your wedding party. Having a private event allows you to really make the event your own. There are several options for food that aren't too pricy in the banquet kit- and you can still do a seated dinner... Or how about a cocktail hour with passed tacos and hot Mexican appetizers. (This may be what you are talking about?)... You could do this and then have your guests disperse for dinner and then regroup for dancing in the disco after if you don't want to host an actual seated reception?

 

We wanted to host our friends and families for a true reception with a great meal as a thank you for travelling so far- but will be doing a passed appetizer cocktail reception and/or s'mores party on the beach as our welcome event. You can do as little or as much as you want,,, it's one of the reasons I liked Karisma since it didn't include a lot of stuff in a base package that I likely wouldn't want. Once you lock in your reception and ceremony spaces then you can research here on how to make the spaces unique and beautiful.

 

Reading through this thread and the other sensatori thread will help a lot I think!

 

Good luck and happy planning!

Edited August 14, 2014 by kmk2016

[mrsgordoncomeondown]

@@kmk2016

 

Sorry I should have been more specific! I was a littl flustered when I initially wrote that post . I did Lock in a location for our reception (the zavas plaza ) and when I locked in that location I also locked in the menu ( standing cocktail , 3 different kinds of tacos , and 2 different appys) she than informed me because of the type of menu I picked I only get the location for 2 hours , so when I asked if I could have it for 4 hours I was told I had to pick a different menu cause I don't want my guests standing for 4 hours . Which I understand that , I would ask for possibly a few tables and chairs set up . I don't know maybe I've just got to change my expectations . Doing the standing cocktail and moving on to the disco wouldn't be such a bad idea !

 

Thanks for the feedback

[AllieH]

@@mrsgordoncomeondown

 

According to the 2014 banquet guide, you can add additional hours to a cocktail (standard 2 hour event) for $9 per person per hour. Thus, to extend it 2 hours would be $18 per person, which may be more than what you are paying for the cocktail itself. And they may want you to pay extra to add seating, since a standing cocktail even doesn't come with tables & chairs (just the high tables).

 

She may have been trying to steer you towards one of the dinners (standard 4 hour event) since it is likely more cost effective than extending a cocktail 2 hours and includes tables and chairs. 

 

If the 4 hour cocktail is what you want, I'd ask again, and point out the available extension listed in the banquet kit. It's on the last page of the 2014 version here: http://www.weddingsbylomastravel.com/planning/Weddings_Banquet_kit_2014.pdf

 

 

@@kmk2016

Sorry I should have been more specific! I was a littl flustered when I initially wrote that post . I did Lock in a location for our reception (the zavas plaza ) and when I locked in that location I also locked in the menu ( standing cocktail , 3 different kinds of tacos , and 2 different appys) she than informed me because of the type of menu I picked I only get the location for 2 hours , so when I asked if I could have it for 4 hours I was told I had to pick a different menu cause I don't want my guests standing for 4 hours . Which I understand that , I would ask for possibly a few tables and chairs set up . I don't know maybe I've just got to change my expectations . Doing the standing cocktail and moving on to the disco wouldn't be such a bad idea !

Thanks for the feedback

[linaco80]

@mrsgordoncomeondown 

What I heard is they are trying out something new.  They are having the first available wedding coordinator ( in Miami)answer an email that comes in instead of having you wait for “your” wedding coordinator.  I don’t think it will work too well.  It’s a nice idea – but I think people would rather wait and work with one person. 

The person person in Miami will give you a wedding sheet where all your wedding details are recorded. You can access it yourself or have them doing it for you.

 

Yes usually coctail hours will be for up to 2 hours and the Mexican Fiesta you chose is one of those options or extend for $9 per person, but it might just be better to select a menu at almost the same cost, you can get a menu from $18 per person.

 

We are doing the Mexican Fiesta with a bomb fire as a welcome cocktail party @ $10 per person a day prior to our wedding, our ceremony will be on the beach at Zocalo pier gazebo, we got a cocktail as a "gift" and will use at at Zocalo Terrace after my ceremony, the reception will be at Plaza Zavas, we picked "pick and choose" menu and those start at a very reasonable price. 

[mrsgordoncomeondown]

We are changing the structure of the Azul wedding department. Instead of weddings being assigned to a specific individual; we have moved to a 3 team structure.  Each team will have specific responsibilities for that wedding. The first team is sales. They are responsible for working with brides and agents right through the deposit stage. They will assist with promotion questions, locations, answering all the general questions and emails that come in prior to a bride making  a commitment to Karisma for her wedding. Then after a bride places a deposit on the ceremony they move into the second phase which is the design team. This group will help her to build her wedding; select menus, flowers, reserve event locations, etc...  After that our finishing team will be a double check process to make sure she's selected everything to make her wedding perfect, collect final payment, communicate with the hotels and prepare her for her journey to the resort.

 

 

 

Brides will work with everyone within each team. They can call or email and our system will allow everyone to be able to assist them. Before just one coordinator had the file and all of the brides details. Our goal is to eliminate the challenges we've had in the past that was created when a coordinator left. 

 

 

 

The challenges created by having one person assigned to a wedding are far greater than having the support of the entire department in the new structure. This way the bride can be assisted at any point during office hours by a Signature Wedding Designer.

 

 

 

This is the explanation I received from the wedding coordinator which now everything makes sense ! Hopefully these kinks will get worked out soon and things will go more smoothly !