Fox Hollow Inn Help!!! Bummed :(

Okay, so I WAS excited to do my hotel block - now I don't know....

Got an email back about our blocks and was told that for October 2013, the discount rate will be $199. That's the HIGHEST number I've seen anywhere on these boards and it's more than a little off-putting. I know the hotel is amazing and has great amenities, but it's too much to ask guests to pay - especially because most of FH's family is in NY, just from wayyyy up, so they shouldn't pay so much to not even truly 'travel' if that makes sense.

I know a lot of brides have mentioned that Ray is great and really works with you -- did anyone have to bargain him down? I hate bargaining, because I'm bad at it and I never know how to not offend people, but I'm willing to try anything you all can recommend. I really really realllllllllyyy want to get my block there, but if they can't even do $179 I'm going to go through Executive Inn I guess.

Super bummed Please help me out - what would you all do/have you done??

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Posted by lauren1802

Why dont you book 10 at each for now and let guests choose?

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Because at Fox Hollow, if we don't book 7 out of 10 rooms, we have to pay for whatever rooms aren't booked

At $179 a night I could see my friends and FH/his GM booking 7, but probably none of our families. Our moms already think I'm insane for wanting to pay that price. At $199, I know FH won't pay, his GM won't, and my friends MIGHT. I am not risking paying a ton of money on top of all the other wedding stuff.

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Posted by chrissie0121

I would go back to them and try to bargain with them. Tell them you found another hotel for $179, but you really want to book with them since your wedding is there. Is there ANYTHING else you can do...They should give you a better deal bc your wedding is at the Fox Hollow!!

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I'm worried I'm going to come off as a Bridezilla - but considering I booked all my vendors without a fit, my BMs are allowed to pick their own hair, makeup, dress, accessories, this might have to be the one time I pull the Bride card lol.

It just came off really cold because I sent a short message, asking for info and to book the block. I got back a GIANT 3-pager that went into extreme detail about all the amenities, the breakfast, the luxury, blah blah, as if I should be sooooo happy to have my guests pay 200 bucks.

I really wanted to be able to go inside, hang out at the bar after the early reception, go to our rooms, have all our families together, eat breakfast all together in the am, the whole thing. grrr

I had a similar situation with them as well, although my rate was not that high as I am a Sunday in March.
Did you go on the website and check the fee for that night if you book online? When I received my room block quote it was the same price as when I went on their website. I went back to him and just stated I didn't feel there was a discount being provided being I could book online for the same price through their site, and told him what I felt a suitable rate would be, and he met it.
You need to guarentee 60% of your blocked rooms, so make sure you feel it is a rate where you can meet that requirement. You don't want to have to pay for rooms that no one has booked!

eff that. i wouldnt pay for the rooms.

i booked at the hampton inn-jericho, which may not be too far of a drive, since its near the highway.
they can only book 1 year in advance though. but i was quoted around 129/night - or 139 if i wanted a shuttle.
the viana is right near there too.

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Posted by Rivera2be

I had a similar situation with them as well, although my rate was not that high as I am a Sunday in March.
Did you go on the website and check the fee for that night if you book online? When I received my room block quote it was the same price as when I went on their website. I went back to him and just stated I didn't feel there was a discount being provided being I could book online for the same price through their site, and told him what I felt a suitable rate would be, and he met it.
You need to guarentee 60% of your blocked rooms, so make sure you feel it is a rate where you can meet that requirement. You don't want to have to pay for rooms that no one has booked!

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I have heard 2 different things which is why i am putting off going to talk to them. Is it true that you need to book 60% of the rooms or is it that they all have to be booked in order to not have to pay for them all.... so confused.

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Posted by teacherteacher

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Posted by chrissie0121

I would go back to them and try to bargain with them. Tell them you found another hotel for $179, but you really want to book with them since your wedding is there. Is there ANYTHING else you can do...They should give you a better deal bc your wedding is at the Fox Hollow!!

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I'm worried I'm going to come off as a Bridezilla - but considering I booked all my vendors without a fit, my BMs are allowed to pick their own hair, makeup, dress, accessories, this might have to be the one time I pull the Bride card lol.

It just came off really cold because I sent a short message, asking for info and to book the block. I got back a GIANT 3-pager that went into extreme detail about all the amenities, the breakfast, the luxury, blah blah, as if I should be sooooo happy to have my guests pay 200 bucks.

I really wanted to be able to go inside, hang out at the bar after the early reception, go to our rooms, have all our families together, eat breakfast all together in the am, the whole thing. grrr

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Hey no one ever said you weren't allowed to be a bridezilla once!! If you want to book at the Fox Hollow a bit of the bridezilla comes out then so be it. It happens!! We just want things to go our way and obvi if we don't get it then we will keep trying! I mean it can't hurt to say something to them.

I totally understand that your wanted to spend the time with your family at the hotel that night and the next morning.

Just see if they can lower the price a bit more, it really can't hurt to try! Sorry they gave you such a high price!

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Posted by lauren1802

Why dont you book 10 at each for now and let guests choose?

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I agree! Try not to stress about it (I know it's hard)....but if you can't get the price down, just pick another hotel and do blocks at both and let the guests choose. It will work out!!

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Posted by JE829

That's really high.. I would let your FH do the negotiating..sometimes guys will deal better with each other .. I had mine do that with our RH and did much better ..JMO

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AGREE!!

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Posted by teacherteacher

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Posted by lauren1802

Why dont you book 10 at each for now and let guests choose?

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Because at Fox Hollow, if we don't book 7 out of 10 rooms, we have to pay for whatever rooms aren't booked

At $179 a night I could see my friends and FH/his GM booking 7, but probably none of our families. Our moms already think I'm insane for wanting to pay that price. At $199, I know FH won't pay, his GM won't, and my friends MIGHT. I am not risking paying a ton of money on top of all the other wedding stuff.

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ohhh i didnt remember that part (we looked when we went to fox hollow)
also... they had told us over $200 i think (last october for sept 2013)

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Posted by Rivera2be

I had a similar situation with them as well, although my rate was not that high as I am a Sunday in March.
Did you go on the website and check the fee for that night if you book online? When I received my room block quote it was the same price as when I went on their website. I went back to him and just stated I didn't feel there was a discount being provided being I could book online for the same price through their site, and told him what I felt a suitable rate would be, and he met it.
You need to guarentee 60% of your blocked rooms, so make sure you feel it is a rate where you can meet that requirement. You don't want to have to pay for rooms that no one has booked!

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I tried checking online, but since it's more than 1 year away I'm not able to see any options for comparison

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Posted by chrissie0121

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Posted by JE829

That's really high.. I would let your FH do the negotiating..sometimes guys will deal better with each other .. I had mine do that with our RH and did much better ..JMO

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AGREE!!

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totally agree that's almost 100% true...but I'm the negotiator/people-talker in our relationship because FH can't deal with people lol.

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Posted by cdh2672

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Posted by lauren1802

Why dont you book 10 at each for now and let guests choose?

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I agree! Try not to stress about it (I know it's hard)....but if you can't get the price down, just pick another hotel and do blocks at both and let the guests choose. It will work out!!

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I'd love to, but Fox Hollow makes you pay for whatever rooms guests don't use. I got an email back from Executive Inn - also in Woodbury, has free shuttles and free breakfast - and their regular non-group rates start at $129 so that will be my fall back.

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Posted by SEB102707

I have heard 2 different things which is why i am putting off going to talk to them. Is it true that you need to book 60% of the rooms or is it that they all have to be booked in order to not have to pay for them all.... so confused.

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Here's the direct info from his email:

If you are interested in reserving a block of rooms, we have only two
requirements. The first is that we need a contract of at least 10 room
nights. (Room night's example: 1 room staying for 2 nights counts as 2 room
nights) The second is that 60% of the room block must be guaranteed. We
would also need a copy of your credit card front and back, which we would
keep on file (there is no down payment; it is only used to hold the block of
rooms). Your guests would then call our in-house reservations and ask for
the group block and they would receive the discounted rate which they would
then provide their own credit card or you can provide me a group rooming
list.


Basically, to even contract a room block with the Inn, you MUST sign up for 10 rooms at minimum. Then, at least 60% (but most brides who booked 10 rooms needed 7 min.) have to be used or else whoever leaves their credit card on file gets charged for the unused remaining rooms.

It's not a terrible system, since around 160-170 I could book 60% no problem. But, $200 a night is a little risky...boooo.

Thank you all so much for your help & input - I did actually cajole (read: beg) FH to try and put on his fiance pants and help me out but he hates dealing with people. I think he's too used to seeing me handle my lockdown classes full of gangs because he thinks I don't need help lol.

I'm going to email Ray back, does this sound appropriate and non-bridezilla?



Hi Ray,

Thank you so much for responding so quickly. I loved the information about the Inn; it's given our families a lot to look forward to. My only concern is the nightly rate. We are also considering another hotel in the area, but they offered a rate of $170 a night. I was wondering if it's possible to match this at the Inn - I'm really looking forward to having our families together in one place for the wedding and post-reception celebrations. (and then I don't know how to end it here/what else to say)

Thank you so much for your time,
Diana

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Posted by nyrvixen

I know emailing is a lot easier but you might want to call. I called Ray and got a cheap rate (still have to have 60% booked but most people are coming for the weekend so they'll be booking for friday and saturday) I would just call and explain you got other quotes but since you are getting married at Fox Hollow that you would like to have the room block there if they can come down in the price.

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I initially wanted to call, but sent the email thinking he could just give me some info about the guest stuff like check-in, breakfast, etc to fill our moms in. When he came back with that number though, I got really annoyed, so now I'm afraid of calling because I don't want to let my b i t c h out lol and I have a hard time reigning it in. It's such a dumb thing to be annoyed about. I've been raving about the hotel to the future in laws for so long and now that they want to know details, if I come back saying $199 a night I'm going to look ridiculous.