Please someone give me some negotiating and other skill tips...

[funk]

Hello people,

I was wondering if someone might be able to give me tips or help on something here.

Ok I am looking to go to a Youth Hostel here in downtown London and find out information prices for booking out a large number of rooms for like summer 2008.

When I say large number of rooms, I mean anything from 200-400 rooms

Now here is the question - how would you do this?

The room is for a large number of people I am "anticipating" bot not confirmed. OBviously if they do not confirm I will have to back out of this.

Anyways...how would you do this - Would you go and make sure you are 100% getting these people and then book?

Or would you book - use the location as another way to promote your good then get your groups?

I hope I havn't written this in too much of a confusing manner, it;s just I am a bit stuck here

The trip is for Summer 2008. Usually these trips by "bigger companies" get booked by the Winter period. So like if you are going on this trip, you might book it by January 2008.

So what should I do? -

Also when I approach these accommodation places, how do you think I should handle it? Obviously I am looking to book large numbers - usual prices are like £30 a night - so I should say, look I am going to book 200 rooms, give me a better rate etc

[nordicnomad]

I used to work for a large hotel chain here in the states and this is a lot more common than you would think. consider weddings and such do this all the time as well as tours and other large groups.

Over here we called them a block reservation, where the organizer negotiated a price below the market rate for their group and told the hotel how many rooms to set aside. It was then up to the guest to call and confirm the room that they wanted and reserve it with a Credit Card before the release date of the rooms (When they'd no longer be reserved for that group and go up in price).

Talk to the front desk of the hotel that you want and ask to speak to their groups and tours department or they might have an individual at that location that handles these things. Most hotels computer systems will only let them book rooms a certain number of months in advance, keeps things simpler, so see when the soonest you can book would be for the date you want.

Most group discounts are handled as a percentage off of the market rate at the time that the rooms are reserved. These rates can change all the time depending on a number of factors effecting the cost of the rooms and hotel's occupancy. Talk to them in terms of percentage when negotiating but know what the hard money number will be. Once you have your price make sure they know you will confirm the rooms from the block personally or someone in your company will once they are purchased from you. I'm assuming your profit is going to come from charging the group the market rate and whatever you negotiate is your comission. This makes sense to the hotels since the website hotel room dealers operate this way.

Just make sure you don't pay for anything unless you confirm the room as sold and remember that if a hotel is sold out in advance it benefits the hotel, even at a discount, since they can figure their budget much more effectively. And if one doesn't give you a deal that you like talk to others, it's a competative industry, but jump on something early if the numbers work for you.

Best of luck.

[funk]

Hi Nord - thanks for the tips

I have come across a deal which is £40 a night which includes breakfast and dinner - location is bang in the middle of London

I personally don't see how I can beat that or get anything better

[nordicnomad]

Hi Nord - thanks for the tips

I have come across a deal which is £40 a night which includes breakfast and dinner - location is bang in the middle of London

I personally don't see how I can beat that or get anything better

For that combination of price, location, and perks I say jump on it. That is a nice deal.