does anyone know if you block rooms and no one books them what happens?? We have a few relatives from NJ that might not want to travel back, but do you have to pay some sort of fee then, if they decide not to stay? How far in advance does the hotel have to know out of a block of 10 rooms how many are being used? We are looking to block some rooms at the holiday inn on old country rd, by the source mall(Westbury) We are getting married in March.. should I call them this soon???(I'd like to know the option is there if i need it although it might not be all used .. )
chefe
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Re: Blocking rooms.. a few questions??
Each hotel has it's own policy on room blocks. I have found that in Long Island, many hotels have minimum requirements for room blocks (usually 10 rooms) with a guarantee (usually 50% to 80%). If you fall below the guarantee, you are required to cover the difference. So, if you think you won't have that many people requiring overnight accommodations, I would skip the block (if the hotel you want has a guarantee) and just provide nearby hotel information on a save-the-date card or your invitation.
The cut-oof date to reserve a room under your block is typically 30 days before the check-in date. So, hypothetically, if your wedding is on March 1st and that's when people will be arriving, then those rooms would need to be reserved by Feb. 1st.
If the hotel doesn't have a guarantee, then when you block, whatever gets booked, gets booked and your responsibility ends there.
If you still want the block, most hotels won't book it more than 6 months in advance, so I would start checking it out in September.
Good luck!
babybride
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Re: Blocking rooms.. a few questions??
I blocked rooms at the Wingate Inn in Garden City for my June '04 wedding and this is the policy they told me. I blocked 25 rooms. 15 rooms must be filled 3 months prior or they get released and only hold 10. The 10 will stay in the block until 1 month prior and then they will be released. There is no charge for rooms not filled in the block. But, if a guest does book a room they must follow the regular hotel cancellation policy if they wish to cancel. I don't remember what that is.
KerrC
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Re: Blocking rooms.. a few questions??
My hotel won't charge me anything for unused rooms. They simply go available for the hotel to use. All my guests have to book before Sept. 12th. Otherwise the rooms are no longer reserved.
SeptemberBride03
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Re: Blocking rooms.. a few questions??
I blocked rooms at the Huntington Hilton. My guests have to book the rooms by a month before the wedding or the block opens up.
itsbouttime
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Re: Blocking rooms.. a few questions??
We blocked rooms at the LI Marriott for 2 nights. One month prior they release any unbooked rooms. There is no fee for any rooms that get released.
aliciahelene
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Re: Blocking rooms.. a few questions??
We blocked rooms and we are not responsible for what doesnt get reserved, ours will though. I know that each hotel has its own policy.
pschica
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Re: Blocking rooms.. a few questions??
we blokced at the wingate, garden city hotel and stony brook holiday in (out by fh family!) and won't lose anything if people don't book....they have until the month beofre!
mattnnic327
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Re: Blocking rooms.. a few questions??
Thanks for all of your help!! I'm going to call soon just to see where I am heading.. to block or not to block.....
kelly6273
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Re: Blocking rooms.. a few questions??
We used The Holiday Inn in Rockville Centre. They held ten rooms for us at a special rate, but that rate was until guaranteed if the room was booked one month prior to the wedding. We didn't have to pay for anything.
