Hotel Package Flexibility

johnnyjb

Hi we have recently got engaged and we are going to look at a few venues this weekend and are looking for a few ideas to help get the best deal.

My main query is, will hotels mix and match bits from their set packages i.e
take an item out that you don't want? (for a little discount)
add an item to a package? (for an extra cost)

An example would be if they offered a complimentary family get together the next day and i didn't want this and asked them to throw in a bar extension instead?

Am i being realistic?

Thanks in advance.

Senna

As with everything, you won't get unless you ask, but in this case the two things aren't really comparable, an after party usually means 20-30-40+ people drinking in the hotel which is extra revenue for very little cost (bit of food, maybe music but it might be playing anyway). The bar extension is a set high cost and unless it's a big wedding, a lot of the time what's taken in for the last hour of the bar might not cover the costs.

aaakev

We got married in February in a hotel about an hour away from where we live. Part of the package we went for included 6 months gym membership each for me and my wife but as we wouldn't have used it we got it changed for 2 extra free rooms for our parents. Just remember that they are trying to sell to you so don't be afraid to ask for anything!

Where are you looking by the way?

Liam McPoyle

Most things are negotiable.

What we have gotten in our venue is very different to what the package we originally got offered but the price is the same aside for a surcharge for having fillet beef in our main.

It mostly comes down to the stuff that doesnt cost them anything but they try and charge for.

For example, my missus hates the usual chair set up - ordinary seats with covers and ribbons on them - so the hotel are giving us the use of chiavari chairs for free where they generally charge for them. Things like up lighting at the reception they will try and charge for but they have them in situ anyway.

If something on one set menu tickles your fancy then it isnt any hassle for them to include it in the menu you go for.

The simple rule is dont ask and you wont get. At the end of the day, ye will be spending a significant chunk of change with them so dont be afraid to say that, if at the outset they are been completely inflexible then I wouldn't go with them tbh.

johnnyjb

Thanks for the replies, lots of good info in there.

Is there any area in particular that people wanted to change but were rebuffed by hotel.

I wanna keep as much bargaining power as possible for the deals i can realistically get and not waste time on the blind alleys.

Thanks again

Liam McPoyle

As I said above, its generally things that would cost the hotel money. Some places dont offer a choice of main for example. We are going with beef for the main and there is a "silent" option for non beef eaters of salmon as well as the veggie option. If we wanted to have a choice of beef or say chicken for mains we would have to pay extra as it would mean they would have to have adequate stock of both in place to cater for everyone. Likewise we asked about having sea bass as opposed to salmon for the silent option, this again was an additional surcharge per person if we wanted it.

Thats just our particular experience though, most hotels (unless part of a chain) would have leeway on different things, best bet is to shortlist to 2 or 3, sit down with them, go through the must haves and the can live withouts and see who comes up best.