Please Help--TA didn't block any rooms; resort is now full day before wedding!

[vdaybride]

Wow, that stinks, don't lose hope. Worse things have happened! In the end, it all works out, stay positive.

[Simistar]

That REALLY sucks that the TA didn't explain all this to you... how were you supposed to know?! You don't know what you don't know, if you KWIM:-)

 

Is it too late to switch TAs...? probably... I really hope everything works out and keep us all posted on what happens as I'm sure this info is super helpful to future B2Bs who don't have this explained to them either...

[A la Playa]

Thanks for all the encouragement and information. Without all you BDWer's I would simply be lost!

 

Like Tammy said, even though we sent out STDs with booking info more than six months in advance and invites over 4 months in advance, you can't make everyone book their trips until they are ready to do so.....so this is the risk that you run into if you don't do a group block of rooms. Lesson learned.

 

We have actually had to switch locations to the EDR, which is where we were going to spend our honeymoon. This time we have secured a group rate and blocked rooms! Knowledge is power!!

 

Although things could be much worse, it's still not the ideal situation b/c now the property where we're getting married is significantly more expensive for our guests than the property where we were originally getting married (Gran Caribe Real), so for those guests who have already booked I am going to have to pay the difference for them to upgrade to the EDR. I just don't feel right asking them to cough up more money for their trips that they have already paid for since there was a major screw up which was partially our fault. However, I'm just thankful to have found a hotel to move everything with just 3 months' notice! I also have to give major props to my mom and fmil for helping me manage this stress and spending hours on the phone with me to get through all this craziness.

[amybermuda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashscho We have actually had to switch locations to the EDR, which is where we were going to spend our honeymoon. This time we have secured a group rate and blocked rooms! Knowledge is power!!

Glad it all worked out in the end and I hear EDR is amazing.

My TA did the same thing - she told me I should not do a group booking and then was a total B when the hotel was sold out and I was freaking. I have guests do a split stay - where they leave to go to a different resort and come back then after the days the hotel is at capacity. Its fine - I a mean its my guests fault who booked late - but I wish I would have fired my TA as soon as she refused to do a group contract!

[A la Playa]

That's a good point. It makes me wonder if TA's are compensated differently for group contracts vs. booking by the ones. Any of the wonderful TAs on here care to answer that one? Not that it makes any difference--I'm just curious if the commission structure is different.

[TammyWright]

the commission structure isnt different but alot of brides do not want to plan for worse case scenario so they would rather not have to deal with signing a contract and putting a deposit down on rooms if they do not have to.

 

as a ta that specializes in dw i have seen it happen all too often where the hotel does sell out and we have to scramble to get rooms.

 

as a bride that has had her dw i know we all want to believe that our guests are going to behave as we like them to (book their rooms/trips on time, rsvp on time) but this does not always happen so you really have to have a contingency plan.

 

with alot of brides, they are hesitant to do a group block because they do not want to fork up such a large deposit. i may advise them to just block rooms for a small percentage of their group (min of 10) so they have rooms for the last minute bookers if they are late getting their STD cards or invitations out or have real slackers in their group.

[A la Playa]

Thanks, Tammy! Great info!

[michelle10]

So sorry that this happened, but great information for the rest of us!

[Nikcambt]

I am so sorry to hear this! I am sure no matter where your wedding takes place it will be beautiful!

[Thomasjsgirl]

So glad that things have worked out for you in the end. That was a close call!