(no subject)

[rivka]

I took the morning off so that curiousangel and I could visit potential hotels for alt.polycon 12. We had fun, and gathered a ton of information, and refined our hotel criteria. (Thanks, tammylc, for giving us ideas about what to look for.)

So far, we've crossed four potentials off our list - two for inadequate meeting space, one for the wrong kind of meeting space combined with lack of flexibility on the part of the sales manager, and one for failing to return our phone calls. We've requested quotes from two others, one of which seems very likely indeed. The other one is probably going to be too expensive, but I suppose it can't hurt to try - after all, apc9 was held in a Westin. Because it makes me nervous to only have two active options, we've got calls in to two more hotels.

It's nice to see salespeople's faces light up when you explain that you want to have a convention and a catered meal in their hotel in January. Hopefully we'll be able to get some good deals. I'm still a little nervous about negotiating a hotel contract - even though I know that negotiation is expected, part of me kind of expects them to be offended if I ask them to lower a price or comp something. We'll see what happens.

Comments

[mittelbar.livejournal.com]

I've found, in business situations, when I have to ask for someone to adjust a price or throw in an extra, that thinking of it and explaining it as a) a budget issue, and b) part of a package helps me a lot. It's not...m. Quibbling or pushing. It's just part of a deal that I and the other party want to work out together.

I still hate it, though.

Wow on you for being on the ball with this!

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

Always try to get them to reduce prices three times. It's trite, but most hotels have little idea what income they'll make off a group, and they often have a bewildering hierarchy of rates. Be firm and resolute. Figure out what you really need from the hotel and then bargain away things they offer that you don't need.

[geekchick]

My coworker-with-the-same-name does the meeting planning stuff for our company and is very good at dealing with hotels and such. If you want, I can ask her on Monday if she has any particular helpful hints.

[barbarakitten-t.livejournal.com]

since i am going to have to skip polycon 11 (darn it, anyhow) maybe we can do a borg roadtrip and hit polycon 12.....)

good luck with your hotel search....

[tammylc.livejournal.com]

Glad you've found at least a couple of possibilities.

My offer to review any contracts is still open.

While I was never hesitant about asking the hotel for more stuff, I was hesitant asking them to reduce rates or cut costs. But before we could move to the new ConFusion hotel, our Board insisted that we work out the contract so that our total liability, regardless of what happened, could be no more than $20,000 (the original cancellation clause presented by the hotel was on the order of $57,000). The hotel was happy to oblige. So now I feel much more confident asking for things...

[minnaleigh.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that you were going to get to do apc12. That's great! I know how much you wanted to do one in Baltimore. Yay!

[fourgates.livejournal.com]

I feel better knowing that you will be doing the negotiating. I've seen you in action before.