Giorgio's Brides- Hotel Room Blocks?

Hi girls- I was wondering what other Giorgio's brides are doing in terms of hotel blocks since there are only 3 local options.

The Hilton Garden Inn does not provide shuttles
The Holiday Inn Express rates are awfully high for their brance- but do provide a shuttle and continental b-fast
The Hotel Indigo (soon to re-open) rates are SOOOO high!!! I can't realistically ask guests to pay any of these hotel rates I feel!

I also want to get ready at the hotel and take pix there, so I would like a nice B-suite.

Are any of you blocking at a hotel futher west and just booking a bus to shuttle guests instead? If you wouldn't mind FM-ing me with the rates you were given for any of the above hotels, or wherever you ended up blocking? Also, how much would a shuttle for the guests run me if it's not included at the hotel?

My wedding is Columbus Day WE, could that be part of why the rates are so astronomical???

TIA!!!!

I know exactly what you are talking about. I am not getting married at Giorgio's, but I am getting married at East Wind, which is in the same vicinity basically. To boot, I am getting married on Sunday, July 3, 2011, which of course, is the holiday weekend. East Wind, luckily, has the hotel, which comped us a room because we are having the wedding there. However, their rate for that night is $269, which some of my guests will not be able to afford. The Hitlon Garden Inn was $229 and, like you said, did not offer a shuttle. Holiday Inn Express and Indigo are the same company, but I don't like their contract/policies and I did not get a quote from them because their sales person sounded like she did not have time for me on the phone and was not very accommodating.

Luckily, I received a packet in the mail from the Marriott in Islandia, which is right off the LIE. I could not believe how nice the packet was I received from them. It had so much information and you could tell that someone took the time to write all the info out for me.

Anyways, their rates are EXTREMELY REASONABLE!!! I blocked the minimum of 10 rooms and it is only going to cost my guests $149 per night (and that is on a holiday weekend). They offer a complimentary shuttle to and from Macarthur airport for guests flying in. They also offer a discounted shuttle from David Bros. Transportation Service. To top it all off, you don't have to put ANY MONEY DOWN as a deposit and they don't charge your card for anything. if the rooms don't sell, they release them the month before with no penalties on your end. For them to make this deal, you can tell they do wedding blocks all the time.

I hope that helps. Here is the info:

Keri D'Arpa
Director of Sales and Marketing
Islandia Marriott Long Island
3635 Express Drive North
Islandia, New York 11749
P - 631 881 6006
F - 631 232-1222
E - [email protected]
www.IslandiaMarriott.com

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Posted by kristiesclafani

I know exactly what you are talking about. I am not getting married at Giorgio's, but I am getting married at East Wind, which is in the same vicinity basically. To boot, I am getting married on Sunday, July 3, 2011, which of course, is the holiday weekend. East Wind, luckily, has the hotel, which comped us a room because we are having the wedding there. However, their rate for that night is $269, which some of my guests will not be able to afford. The Hitlon Garden Inn was $229 and, like you said, did not offer a shuttle. Holiday Inn Express and Indigo are the same company, but I don't like their contract/policies and I did not get a quote from them because their sales person sounded like she did not have time for me on the phone and was not very accommodating.

Luckily, I received a packet in the mail from the Marriott in Islandia, which is right off the LIE. I could not believe how nice the packet was I received from them. It had so much information and you could tell that someone took the time to write all the info out for me.

Anyways, their rates are EXTREMELY REASONABLE!!! I blocked the minimum of 10 rooms and it is only going to cost my guests $149 per night (and that is on a holiday weekend). They offer a complimentary shuttle to and from Macarthur airport for guests flying in. They also offer a discounted shuttle from David Bros. Transportation Service. To top it all off, you don't have to put ANY MONEY DOWN as a deposit and they don't charge your card for anything. if the rooms don't sell, they release them the month before with no penalties on your end. For them to make this deal, you can tell they do wedding blocks all the time.

I hope that helps. Here is the info:

Keri D'Arpa
Director of Sales and Marketing
Islandia Marriott Long Island
3635 Express Drive North
Islandia, New York 11749
P - 631 881 6006
F - 631 232-1222
E - [email protected]
www.IslandiaMarriott.com

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I felt the same way about the Rep's at Holiday Inn and Hotel Indigo! Thank you so much! I'm definitely going to check them out! It's a 40 minute drive, but if it can save my guests like $80 a night, I think they won't mind! Especially since several of them will be here for two nights or more!

Would you mind me asking about the details for the discounted shuttle?

Thanks!

Unfortunately, I did not get that far. But, if you think about it, I would rather pay for a shuttle than pay a deposit that a hotel wont refund you if the rooms are not filled up and also I would rather my guests be safe. I am sure that your guests that are drinking will not mind all bonding on the shuttle because its a fun ride

I don't currently have prices, but ask the lady when you call to give you the info for david bros. and you can call for pricing.

I hope this helps