Need Help understanding Hotel Block

Yes. Just avoid this hotel and find another one that isn't going to charge you if the rooms don't get booked.

Yep, hotels do one of two things.

1) THey block rooms until a certain date, then release them to the general public. In these cases, they will not guarantee they have rooms available AFTER the release date, but they will still honor the reduced price if they do have availability. In these cases, they will not charge you money.

2) Your situation ... they charge you for unfilled rooms ... but not ALL of them. Say you reserve 10 rooms in their block. You only have to fill up 8 of them. Two are freebies. So, if you get to your big day and only 7 rooms are booked up, then two are freebies, you would be responsible for paying for one room that isn't filled. Make sense?

In all honestly, I would see if they offer the first time of room block and if not, find another hotel. I don't think you should risk getting yourself into a situation where you have to pay when there are tons of hotels out there that do it another way.

Often they offer the second first because it's the "safer" route for them, but if you bring up the first type of booking they might do it.

Yeah find a new hotel. I was option 1 in kylene's scenarios. That's much much easier.

Thanks Kylene. I thought this was odd since the other Hotel we found didn't say anything like that. What jerks. That's dumb. Thanks for the advice and understanding breakdown.

I agree, find another hotel. Otherwise, you're stressing about whether or not those rooms are going to be booked and if you're going to be paying for unused rooms that they're probably just going to turn around and sell to the general public, making more money. Avoid the unnecessary stress!

@Snappy, no problem! I went through the same thing. I booked one just fine but the other sent me the contract and it asked for credit card info and talked about our obligation to pay. I went back and said I wasn't comfortable with that and they said, "Oh, well we have this other option." Thank you, why didn't you offer me the choice in the first place!?

Definitely ask and if not, go elsewhere. You absolutely should not have to pay.

Right -- sometimes it's a matter of who you call to make arrangements. Make sure you talk to group sales and tell them you're not guaranteeing a minimum. See if they'll give you a group rate. That's all you are really asking for -- a discounted rate.

Thanks Lively! I'm about to send her an email back regarding the concern. No way am I paying for unused rooms that they will make money on anyway!

If you live in a city that has a travel group (I live in Tampa and we have Visit Tampa Bay which courts people to visit and do business here), I went through them to reserve my room blocks without any minimum requirements, I think they were called Courtesy Room Blocks. I think the major hotel chains require that you fill a minimum of 80% of the rooms blocked.

I've read on here and other sites to don't get a hotel block if they are going to hold you financially responsible for unfilled rooms. (unless you have to for a DW) Do the courtesy block. I skipped over one of my hotel choices for just that reason.

Find a hotel that does not make you pay for unused rooms!!!!!!! I had to call a few. I am using the Sheraton.

We called the main line of one of the Marriott hotels (corporate number) and were told we'd have to pay for the block, then we called group sales contact locally at the hotel (I found her through a bridal show) and we got the courtesy block so keep at it. Paying for a guarantee is bogus. You're sending them referrals--they should be courting YOU!

The hotel I have a block at doesn't charge unless you are reserving more than 20 rooms. So you can see if they will do a smaller amount of rooms without holding you accountable. However the hotel I am doing mine at if I add more rooms and they don't fill I can spend that cost in a different way. For example if 3 rooms aren't filled that I am responsible for, I can spend that amount on a morning breakfast for my guests.