Need More Help & Advice on Hotel Blocks of Rooms?

I originally went through wedding wire to see what rates they would give for the hotel block. The rates were okay, but I called 3 of the top places and they actually gave me better rates. I also was able to tell them competitors pricing and they threw in a few extras for me.

I also originally tried the wedding wire app to reserve blocks - but I kept getting quotes for hotels way out of the way and at rates quite a bit higher than I could see their average rates tended to be and not very good responsiveness from the hotels directly when I had very specific questions.

I ended up going through Hilton directly - they have a helpful web portal that lays everything out clearly and even provide a URL link for your guests to use directly to get the special rate! I booked a big block at a higher price point hotel and a small block at a lower price point (though, honestly only $25/night difference). Also, the sales manager at the hotel with the big block has been super helpful and responsive. Hilton’s general customer service was also great when I was having technical difficulties with the website!

Same as pps. I went on trivago and started making phone calls to the hotels sales depts.

Someone from the hotel should have reached out to her to talk about how many rooms per day she would need and what the rate is. At least that’s what I did.

I had a chance to go see the rooms and hotel for myself and talk to the manager that handles room blocks. Then we made a contract that said i wasn’t financially responsible for any rooms that didn’t get blocked and locked in the rate.

I would try try to talk to someone at the hotel.

Yes, daughter has been trying since Friday to speak to the correct person at the hotel, and despite many calls has not had success in speaking to the right person yet. ! Frustrating!

So far, we've managed to book 10 rooms, at a really good rate.

Anyone else used the hotelplanner.com thing, though?

View Quoted Comment I used the hotelpanner.com for all my quotes but then someone reached out to me directly.

Not or sure how much support that website gives you if you need to reach the hotel directly.

Wish I could help more.

I would just deal directly with the hotel. You mentioned your daughter left a message for that person on Friday and hasn't heard back yet, but it's only Tuesday so give it another day then call again.

Hotel planner is kinda useless. If she booked a few rooms at one rate, then booked a few more at a different rate, that doesn’t sound like a block at all.

fyi, many hotels will quote higher rates to hotel planner because they have to pay them commission. You’re far better off calling a Hotel Sales department directly.

I appreciate all the insights so far. When we are all finished with this process, I think I will write up a review of hotel planner.

So far, we have been successful at booking more than 10 rooms, and we have rates of $59/night, and then $63/night. They do add on taxes and fees, and I am quite sure there is a fee in there for hotel planner taking their cut (it is in the fine print). But still, quite a good rate for a good hotel near the wedding venue.

What is tricky to navigate so far, is that all of the people that booked wanted the same 3 nights that bride originally put in her search parameters. We have not been able to adjust that, so people wanting to add on a night (like we do), or only doing 2 nights, etc.. haven't been able to make that work yet.

We hope daughter will get answers today from the hotel directly. I'll try to be patient!

I used HotelPlanner, but after I saw a deal I liked, I called the hotel to speak directly with the sales manager and iron out details. Is your daughter leaving messages when she calls? If so, I would give it a couple more days and if you don’t hear anything, try a different hotel. If they’re not communicating well now, you don’t want to deal with that nightmare on her wedding weekend.

Keep trying the hotel. When you go to the hotels actual website are the rates close to what you are getting through hotelplanner?

Honeslty I think all brides and grooms should deal with hotels directly. You can negotiate and cut out the middle man who is collecting 10% that will be passed on to you and your guests.

We tried using WW for this, and found it was a lot easier to go directly through the hotels. Two of the hotels we have room blocks at according to WW had nothing to offer. Talking directly to the hotels we were able to add a night onto what FH had originally tried to get blocks for. Just have her call the hotels directly and forget using the app.

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Do you have the website that you used for Hilton? I would love to try and use it to secure another room block!

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I actually just went to www.hilton.com. Search for a hotel like you normally would, but whenever you request to reserve 10 + rooms, it will automatically route you to the group booking manager. Generally, they offer three different group reservation types (always depending on local property policies). One is a courtesy block where there's an option for guests to reserve and the rooms are "on hold" at the prevailing rate. There's an 80% block where guests have until 21 days before to reserve at a discounted rate, if there are un-reserved rooms they are released and you aren't charged. Then there's the full block were they are guaranteed past the 21 day mark, but you'd be responsible for paying anything that didn't' get booked up.

HotelPlanner gets the room block rates from the hotel and then tacks on extra $$ to make their commission. I used it to see what was out there, and then called the hotels directly. They were each able to beat HotelPlanner's lowest quoted rate and were super friendly and easy to deal with!

I would have your daughter call the hotel directly and ask about a room block. Don't even mention the .com thing, just inquire as if you hadn't already booked rooms. See if they offer a better rate with more clear direction on how guests can book the number of nights they need. If they can set it up for you directly, I would cancel the reservations you have booked online.

The normal rate on the hotel website is somewhere around $120/night, so we are getting about half-rate.

I will keep you updated on this saga as we go along.

Is that $120 based on their published rates? My daughter is getting quite a deal on a top rated hotel for her room block. I wouldn't just go by the normal room rate. You also want to make sure it's a courtesy block so you're not on the hook for payment if your guests choose not to book there.

Thank you, WED18, I didn't know the term courtesy block, so that is very helpful.

Yes, the $120 is what comes up if I just look online at that hotel.

Did you actually book the rooms or just set up a courtesy block? A block just guarantees a set amount of rooms are reserved for guests to book at a discounted rate.