Iberostar Room Blocking Urgent Help Needed

[stingerash]

Hey Guys! I am sorry to ask this question if it has been answered for someone else but I have been searching for hours and can't find much regarding this question and my sincere apologies if this is the wrong place to ask this

I just joined the site and have been reading and getting tons of great information from all of you guys! Thank you so much!

 

I am having my wedding at the Iberostar In November. We just got engaged a few weeks ago but we live in different states and our leases end around the same time so we needed to have a wedding around that time.

 

So my question is, my travel agent has given me the package prices for the Iberostar and we have invited about 150 people. We think that only 85 will come.

 

Based on that, we figured we would block off around 40 rooms (I kind of just guessed at this number so any thoughts on this would be appreciated too haha)

 

The travel agent said that he could block off 40 rooms and that reduction to the group prior to May 1 would be no penalty. Reductions/Cancellations to the group from May 2 to Mid july would be penalized 1 night per person at contracted total rate per room and anything from Mid july to Mid August would be penalized 2 room nightsper person at contracted total room rate.

 

I dont know anything about any of this and I have to send my deposit for blocking off the rooms which is $100 per room (totaling $4,000) by Wednesday.

I just wanted to make sure that this was normal?

And if so, how do we go about sending the save the dates and invitations since I would obviously want to know (need to know) by May so that I dont get penalized but it seems very hard for me to be able to send out save the dates and then invitations and get RSVPs by May! I know its proper etiquette to allow 6-8 months so I am not sure what to do.

Can anyone offer suggestions or what they did?

 

Is that penalty fee normal or should I shop around travel agents?

 

Sorry for the unorganized questions and information in this! 

And thanks so much guys <3

 

Ashley

[Marvandmaya]

We blocked if 10 rooms at 100.00 each so we are only putting down 1000.00. I wouldn't do the entire 4000.00. Sounds like you would be losing money if people don't book. Just my opinion. Good luck!

[stingerash]

Thank you! I am just nervous that the rooms will be taken so I am not sure what to do. Does anyone know if that is the hotels policy or that travel agent?

 

Thanks!

[TammyWright]

we work really closely with Iberostar and are hosting the Ibersotar Wedding Webinar this Saturday.  If you have not done so, should register.

 

We usually give 2 months before departure to do reductions without penalty so for a November wedding it would be around September.

 

 

If you would like to contact us for rates or other questions:  Contact a Destination Wedding Specialist HERE and I will direct you to the best agent that fits your needs.

 

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

[stingerash]

Thanks Tammy! That is very helpful information and I am going to look into Wright!

 

My current travel agent said that it is the hotels policy (the dates of cancellation being that after may i would get the penalty"

 

Do you think that is something that can be negotiated ?

I know you said you work with them a lot. September would be so much better obviously!

[TammyWright]

Originally Posted by stingerash 

 

Thanks Tammy! That is very helpful information and I am going to look into Wright!

 

My current travel agent said that it is the hotels policy (the dates of cancellation being that after may i would get the penalty"

 

Do you think that is something that can be negotiated ?

I know you said you work with them a lot. September would be so much better obviously!

if it helps, we are in the US and work with US brides so that is what we have been doing...if you are canadian, they do things a little bit differently.

[mrsjones2014]

I work for a hotel, and it is very common to have a clause in the contract that guarantees rooms within dates. If you hold rooms for over your given dates, that means that the rooms have not been able to be sold to anyone else. You can sometimes have a "resale" clause added that dictates if the hotel is able to resell those rooms you've released, you're off the hook basically. This will only really work if the hotel is sold out though, so I wouldn't count on it. In the end, the hotel needs to sell its rooms, so that's the reason. Hope that gives you an answer, even if it's not the best one!

[stingerash]

Thanks! I definitely understand the reasoning behind the deposit fees, I just thought that having only until May 1 to drop/cancel/reduce roooms without penalty for a Nov wedding seemed really too early? But I dont know anything about this stuff!

[TammyWright]

Originally Posted by stingerash 

 

Thanks! I definitely understand the reasoning behind the deposit fees, I just thought that having only until May 1 to drop/cancel/reduce roooms without penalty for a Nov wedding seemed really too early? But I dont know anything about this stuff!

we do many weddings with Iberostar and it is early.