I just sent out my save the dates and included the hotel cards with the 'dicounted rate' of $149 a night. Well I just got an email from a friend who went on the hotels website and got quoted $136. Why is that? Why would my guests be motivated to book through my reservation if they can get it at the same hotel cheaper without the group rate? They are including a shuttle to the reception but It is supposed to be 'a free shuttle included when you book rooms'.
I am calling the hotel today. Any thoughts on why my rate is more expenisve.?
babybride
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Re: My hotel price dilema
I had that happen to me when I was looking at hotels. I actually looked up a whole bunch on-line and then went to the hotels expecting my price to be less that what I saw it for on-line. That was true in all but one case and when I asked they told me they don't control the internet prices. It was a chain hotel and that was managed somewhere else. They have nothing to do with it and it you book directly with them it would be $xxx. Maybe you have the same thing?
SFP0214
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Re: My hotel price dilema
Hmmm maybe. That is wierd though. Maybe I will just tell my guests to book on thier own and I will hire a shuttle...UGh one more expense. The wierd thing is the hotel 'holiday inn express in hauppague' has its own webpage just for that branch and that is where they got the price from. I think.
babybride
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Re: My hotel price dilema
Since you wrote that I wanted to add the one that gave me a higher price was the Holiday Inn in Carle Place. Just found that interesting...
SFP0214
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Re: My hotel price dilema
I guess I have some investigating to do!
eogara
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Re: My hotel price dilema
That's odd! I'm using the Holiday Inn in Plainview and I just checked - my price is about $40 lower than the internet price. Definitely call!
buckles
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Re: My hotel price dilema
Definitely call! Unfortunately, because of this, the hotel blocking took me much longer than it should have but refined my negotiating skills...I mean it was ridiculous I would call, get a price, I would literally say is that the best you can do and they would literally knock the price down at least $10 per room just by me saying that. It is all a game to these people or as my FI would say...'They just want to try to pinch every dime out of you'. I found the more you nagged the o=more they would come down in price. Call and create a stink!
future_april05bride
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Re: My hotel price dilema
hi!
i'm using them too.....and went through this whole scenario with them with my room rates. even though the shuttle is 'free' they actually factor that into your room rate. when i questioned about the cheaper rates i saw online at the time....they said that was for very small qty of rooms -- say 1 or 2 before that room rate disappeared. also, if your guest doesn't book at your room rate they told me they are not eligible for shuttle --- ughhhh.
the good thing i've noticed is that rates have seemed to have gone up with the more time passes and are now above my quote. i don't know about your guests, but i'm thinking the bulk of my guests won't really start booking until next year anyways.
hope that helps, and definitely let me know if you have any different luck. i gave up after forever going back and forth on the issue
SFP0214
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Re: My hotel price dilema
I called and didnt' get anywhere. They said that the online rate is lower becuase they have to check in by 3 or lose the room and that they cannot cancel without losing the $ at any time because they pay for the room up front. (not like this is an issue) and that they would not be eligible for the shuttle.
