Hotel Room Block

[cupcake8503]

For those of you who have done hotel room blocks I have a few questions:

 

1) Did you have to put money down on the rooms?

 

2) What happens if you don't book all the rooms the hotel blocked for you (ie you blocked 10 rooms but only 7 were book)?

 

3) What happens if you didn't block enough rooms (ie you blocked 10 rooms, they were booked, some guests still need rooms)?

 

3) How does hotel room blocks work for sailing and non-sailing guests (For instance, sailing guests may only need a hotel room for 1 night and non sailing for 2 nights) Did you block the rooms for both nights even though some guests only needed one night?

 

Also if you can put the hotel chain I would appreciate it. It will give me an idea of how policies differ between hotels. Thank you for your help!

[Pjsgal]

I called the hotel we chose and I "guessed" how many rooms I would need. They didn't take my card for everyone's room. Only mine. When I called back to add more they actually said they couldn't at that rate but as people called they still booked them in. And I did for two nights for all the block and if they wanted more or less they got that as they called. This is not a national chain. My thought is choose the hotel you think you want and ask them what they can do for you

[cupcake8503]

I called the hotel we chose and I "guessed" how many rooms I would need. They didn't take my card for everyone's room. Only mine. When I called back to add more they actually said they couldn't at that rate but as people called they still booked them in. And I did for two nights for all the block and if they wanted more or less they got that as they called. This is not a national chain. My thought is choose the hotel you think you want and ask them what they can do for you

 

Thank you!

[Herbaltees]

For those of you who have done hotel room blocks I have a few questions:

 

1) Did you have to put money down on the rooms?

 

2) What happens if you don't book all the rooms the hotel blocked for you (ie you blocked 10 rooms but only 7 were book)?

 

3) What happens if you didn't block enough rooms (ie you blocked 10 rooms, they were booked, some guests still need rooms)?

 

3) How does hotel room blocks work for sailing and non-sailing guests (For instance, sailing guests may only need a hotel room for 1 night and non sailing for 2 nights) Did you block the rooms for both nights even though some guests only needed one night?

 

Also if you can put the hotel chain I would appreciate it. It will give me an idea of how policies differ between hotels. Thank you for your help!

 

1: no, I didn't have to put any money down. Don't use a hotel who makes you put dwn a deposit.

 

2: if you don't block enough rooms, your guests will have to pay the prevailing rate, not your negotiated rate.

 

3: they can book rooms in any configuration 1 or two nights etc.

 

 

I blocked rooms at the Aloft and comfort suites. The Aloft gave me a free room to host a reception and once 10 nights (5rooms 2 nights or 10- 1 night )were booked we'd get a free guest room.

[gymbomb]

We opted not to reserve a block of rooms. Instead we found a hotel at a good price on Hotwire, booked our room, and sent information on how to book to all of our guests. We said that staying there was optional, but that we'd help arrange transportation to the cruise terminal for anyone at our hotel. Most of our guests booked with the instructions we sent and got a great deal for a Boston area hotel. One family waited too long and was able to get the same hotel but had to pay full price (they originally said they were full, but after my Mom called and told them how many other rooms we'd booked they managed to find an opening). Another waited too long and chose to stay somewhere closer to the airport since they arrived later in the evening.

[cupcake8503]

Instead of making a new thread I decided on putting in this thread since I started it.

 

For my NYC Brides:

 

I got a great deal on my wedding guest block at the Hampton Inn Manhattan- Chelsea. I blocked it for the entire weekend just in case any non-sailing guests want to enjoy the weekend in NYC.

 

King Size Bed- $179 per night

Two Queen Beds- $199 per night

*does not include taxes & fees.

 

I received tons of quotes for hotels in Manhattan and they were either crazy expensive ($250+ per night) or they couldn't accommodate me. No, it's not the Hilton but I'm sure my guests will appreciate the price, proximity to the train, and the good yelp reviews (lol).

 

The hotel is in Chelsea (around 24th st & 7th ave) and 1 block from the train station (2 stops from Times Square). It will be around a 15 min cab ride to the pier. I am considering renting a large passenger van/bus to take guests staying at the hotel to the pier.

 

Hope this helps.

[SweetBride13]

1: no, I didn't have to put any money down. Don't use a hotel who makes you put dwn a deposit.

 

2: if you don't block enough rooms, your guests will have to pay the prevailing rate, not your negotiated rate.

 

3: they can book rooms in any configuration 1 or two nights etc.

 

 

I blocked rooms at the Aloft and comfort suites. The Aloft gave me a free room to host a reception and once 10 nights (5rooms 2 nights or 10- 1 night )were booked we'd get a free guest room.

 

Herbaltees, you're sailing out of Baltimore right? Regarding the free room to host your reception, do you have to book a certain amount of rooms to get that free room? What (if any) are the stipulations to get this room for free? I am looking to host a "welcome dinner" the night before, and would love to have the dinner at the actual hotel, for convenience! Also is in house catering available or would you need an outside caterer? Thanks!!

 

OP, didn't mean to take over your thread :-)

[Herbaltees]

Herbaltees, you're sailing out of Baltimore right? Regarding the free room to host your reception, do you have to book a certain amount of rooms to get that free room? What (if any) are the stipulations to get this room for free? I am looking to host a "welcome dinner" the night before, and would love to have the dinner at the actual hotel, for convenience! Also is in house catering available or would you need an outside caterer? Thanks!!

 

OP, didn't mean to take over your thread :-)

Hello SweetBride, yes we are sailing out of Baltimore on the Pride.

No we didn't have to book a certain amount of rooms to get the room for the reception. Note: The "reception" is more of receiving cocktail/hospitality room, not the one where we are hosting our pre wedding reception (sit down dinner). I think the Best Western on Dorsey Road offered a more substantial room which could be used for a sit down dinner reception, but I had already selected another location for that event.

 

I used group Travel dot Org to get quotes for my room block. You can make "free reception room" as part of your request.

[lightskinedgyal]

I have blocked out Hampton Inn Coaco Beach right beside Port Canaveral They gave my TA the rate of 109.00 a night which is decent considering there rates for Sat night are 149.00. This hotel has a free breakfast which is important to me as well the shuttle to the port is only 5 bucks per person which we will pay for our guests!

[Artemis908]

We did a block of rooms at the Marriott, I got in contact with an events hotel reservation specialist who got us a special rate and blocked some rooms for us. I guessed how many we would need. No money needed. Since the hotel was not associated with the cruise line there was no transportation, so everyone traveled on their own. No difference for sailing vs. non-sailing

[cupcake8503]

We did a block of rooms at the Marriott, I got in contact with an events hotel reservation specialist who got us a special rate and blocked some rooms for us. I guessed how many we would need. No money needed. Since the hotel was not associated with the cruise line there was no transportation, so everyone traveled on their own. No difference for sailing vs. non-sailing

 

 

I remember in your NY Resources thread you stated that you got the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott for $200 a night. They gave me a quote of around $280-$300 a night. And my wedding isn't until next June. I thought early booking would be cheaper, but I guess a lot has changed since 2011. :(

 

Also, I am going to post the hotel info from this thread into the one you started for NY cruisers as well so when brides search they get a bigger range. There aren't too many NY brides on here.

[cupcake8503]

Herbaltees, you're sailing out of Baltimore right? Regarding the free room to host your reception, do you have to book a certain amount of rooms to get that free room? What (if any) are the stipulations to get this room for free? I am looking to host a "welcome dinner" the night before, and would love to have the dinner at the actual hotel, for convenience! Also is in house catering available or would you need an outside caterer? Thanks!!

 

OP, didn't mean to take over your thread :-)

 

No worries. I've done that before. :D

[SweetBride13]

Hello SweetBride, yes we are sailing out of Baltimore on the Pride.

No we didn't have to book a certain amount of rooms to get the room for the reception. Note: The "reception" is more of receiving cocktail/hospitality room, not the one where we are hosting our pre wedding reception (sit down dinner). I think the Best Western on Dorsey Road offered a more substantial room which could be used for a sit down dinner reception, but I had already selected another location for that event.

 

I used group Travel dot Org to get quotes for my room block. You can make "free reception room" as part of your request.

 

Thank you so much for that info! I will definately check that website out!