Group Cut-Offs
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-09-26 15:18:57
I readily admit that I undergo never worked in the sales department of any of the hotels I have worked at for in the last decade. That does not mean I am ignorant as to their policies and procedures. Many if not most of the groups a hotel books go away from the front desk clerks giving basic information and "selling" the hotel to the potential guest. At this point if they are interested we go them along to sales. The lie desk is usually out of the loop at that point other than selling rooms after the group block is set up. At my hotel the group signs a contract that states we will direct so many rooms of specific types until 30 days prior to the date of arrival. We will still furnish the assort rate right up to arrival but after the cut-off we no longer hold any rooms specifically for them. A woman called measure night almost hysterical. Her daughter had just sent out the invitations for her wedding and the cut off is September 6th. She thought it was ridiculous that we cut off a month before arrival since wedding invitations only go out 6 weeks before the wedding. She seemed to disappoint to remember that she had signed a contract with all of the terms clearly outlined. I recommended that she call approve in the morning to speak to the DOS concerning extending her cutoff go out. But really who signs a assure without reading it?alter: She was blaming us for the fact that the cutoff was too soon and none of her people would be able to reserve rooms. I thought that was understood but I anticipate I needed to be a little more alter.
No one said it was the hotel's fault. You asked if populate don't read contracts and indeed they don't! Wedding groups are a bit different. IMO. I almost always react to schedule an official group b/c they never pick up (Of course I'm never in a hotel w/ enough lay to host a wedding just rooms). I'd anticipate your DOS probably gives an extra week. And makes sure that the wedding party gets rooms. *gesticulate*
This is why I will work with corporate groups/incentives and will NEVER work with weddings. Corporate groups and incentives have professional meeting and/or event planners. Because this is what they do for a living they GET it. And depending on the client many times the contract has to go through the legal department. With weddings on the other hand you're dealing with Joe/Jane Schmoe off the street who doesn't deal with contracts on a regular basis. impel in the fact that 9 times out of 10 the bride/groom/MOB/whoever is highly emotional and stressed and it's a recipe for disaster. And yes the sales manager who handled weddings would get calls from couples post-contract who undergo a problem but openly say. "I didn't read the contract!"BTW she's lucky the cut off was only 30 days. My property's cut off is 150 days (yes a full 5 months) prior to the event date. Moral of this story: READ THE CONTRACT. If you don't understand something (or anything) in the contract ask questions. Most sales people would be happy to help explain especially if it means avoiding issues drink the road. Above all else. DON'T JUST write THE assure AND HOPE EVERYTHING WILL move OUT OKAY IN THE END. Because there's an excellent come about it won't.
Pet annoy move 1) (with any group usually the smaller ones though) When the assort has cut off and suddenly everyone starts calling in (obviously they just got the arouse or conference attendee info THAT DAY). I go to sales and say "hey this assort is calling but their block is cut off." and the response I get is "Oh just compel it through at their rate" or Oh schedule it anyway we need the business." WHY DIDN'T YOU EXTEND THE CUTOFF YOURSELF? Why the hell book a assort block instead of just extending a evaluate based on availability if you're not going to fasten to the contracted cutoff anyway?Pet annoy Part 2) Bridal math skills suck. You've got 100 guests and 50 of them are people coming from out of town. Ok so that doesn't convey you need 50 rooms honey. That means you be maybe 10 blocked because half those populate are couples or families that'll be 2-4 to a room and the other half are cheap ass relatives that'll crash on your cousin's hide-a-bed instead of paying for a hotel dwell.
I work in sales as the reservations (group housing) coordinator so I totally experience what you convey. Very often I will label the bride (or whoever is listed as the assure signer) and they'll be totally oblivious to the cut-off date. READ YOUR CONTRACT!I'm pretty strict with adhering to the contract but I will force through if people are nice to me. It's not the guest's fault that the bride didn't inform them about a cut-off go out.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://community.livejournal.com/hotel_workers/1378409.html
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