Hotel Incentives

genie_us · 18-08-2008 04:00PM

Can anyone give tips on how to go about haggling or bargaining for these things with the hotels?

BroomBurner · 18-08-2008 04:18PM

Wow, loads of people have got some really good deals! Good to see people not accepting outright what they're offered

On haggling with hotels, just ask them what they can offer you that is better than other hotels. Have a few picked out and have your info to hand quickly, stating what their competition is offering and if they can better it. When it comes to the bar extension, tell them that they can close the bar early if they want, but that the hotel themselves will lose valuable revenue if they do (far more than the actual bar extension price). Hotel manager's aren't stupid. You kind of have to be prepared to lose out in order to gain, with some things.

Emerald Lass · 19-08-2008 11:12AM

rameire wrote: »

i am getting

10% off total bill,
bridal sweet and two rooms for bridal parents thrown in.
cake stand
flowers for the tables free,
free parking
red carpet,
corkage on the bubbly and wine
free sambos and tea and coffee for the after buffet
free champagne for the bridal party
free use of horse and carriage from house to the hotel,
free use of a separate room for the wedding ceremony (civil wedding)
free food tasting for 4 people
1 year anniversary dinner
round of golf for 4 people at the local golf club
free room during the afternoon for the kids entertainment,
exclusive use for the hotel for the whole day,

oh and they are catering to our every request and so so helpful

I notice so many people have commented on what a good deal you got without knowing how much you paid??!! Of course all these 'free' things are not 'free' because you are paying for them somewhere along the line. And if they are giving a discount its because they can well afford it - 10% discount read as previously paying 10% too much!

To me it just goes to show how over inflated the prices are when they can include all the above for the same price. Of course they still make a profit, and you are paying them, so to say things are 'free' or for the hotel to make you feel like they are free is misleading. also consider how much money they will take in over the bar! We seem to think we are getting a great deal, because compared to some places this is a fantasic offer. But doesn' that just prove that the hotel industry are taking the pi$$? They act like they are doing us a favour, rather than us paying a premium for their service!

I'm marrying in Turkey - here you don't pay for the venue (in our case a lovely restaurant over two levels over looking the sea and village). As we are guaranteeing them full capacity and drinks they are happy to give the venue to us for free. There is no mention of extra for chair covers or cake stands or any of that nonsense. We already get an automatic 10% discount every time we eat there because we are regulars, and we will get this on the day also. They are giving us the first 10 bottles of wine included with the meals. They are offering a menu choice i.e guests can choose any meal from the menu (this will be a shoter version than their usual menu but will have choice of three starters , 3 choices in each chicken, beef, veg, turkish options for the main meal, 4 dessert choices, plus meze (apetisers). We are having our wedding early evening (noe decided def yet, prob around 5 or so), followed by the meal, and then at about 11 or so there will again be salads and snacks. Also water is free (bear in mind its turkey, so no tap water!) They have also included all table linens co ordinating with the bridal party, and 3 bottles of champagne for the toast (1 bottle of Moet, and 2 turkish champagne! lol)

This is just as standard, and no doubt we will be able to arrange a lot more as the time draws closer. They are delighted because it means that they are certain of 100 covers for the evening which they could not guarantee otherwise. Plus they are guaranteed money on alcohol. It really does go to show how we are taken advantage of in Ireland.

Sizzler · 19-08-2008 11:01PM

genie_us wrote: »

Can anyone give tips on how to go about haggling or bargaining for these things with the hotels?

Simple, just say that you are evaluating several venues at the moment and then say that hotels of similar standard are offering X,Y & Z and is that something that they can match. If they say no straight off then say thanks but you will be looking elsewhere then.

I have played 2-3 hotels off one another to get what I was after and it wasnt that hard, the problem is that a lot of people just ask the price and then decide if they can afford it or not, they dont challenge or ask for stuff and the hotel then thinks happy days. Bar extensions perfect example, the amount of moaners on weddings online giving out about the increase in the stamp duty in bar extensions has been passed on to them by the hotel, RIDICULOUS! Purely because they were stupid enough to agree to pay for a bar extension in the first place!! The hotel will make most of their cash generally off the bar receipts at weddings and people are paying to have a bar open for an extra hour or two for the privililge of seeing the hotel swell their coffers by even more money :rolleyes:

fiona-f · 20-08-2008 08:03AM

I agree it is ridiculous what hotels list as an enticing special extra! On the other hand though, you can imagine how quickly my jaw dropped to the floor when one hotel we viewed handed us the price list for PRECISELY such things as hire of cake stand (€40), hire of cake knife (€20), use of the microphone during the speeches (€60) etc. At the time, both of us just literally burst out laughing in front of the banquetting manager. That to me really is the Celtic Tiger at its very very worst. Hotel was Four Seasons in Ballsbridge, btw.

Sizzler · 21-08-2008 01:51PM

fiona-f wrote: »

I agree it is ridiculous what hotels list as an enticing special extra! On the other hand though, you can imagine how quickly my jaw dropped to the floor when one hotel we viewed handed us the price list for PRECISELY such things as hire of cake stand (€40), hire of cake knife (€20), use of the microphone during the speeches (€60) etc. At the time, both of us just literally burst out laughing in front of the banquetting manager. That to me really is the Celtic Tiger at its very very worst. Hotel was Four Seasons in Ballsbridge, btw.

FFS ! Thats unreal ! I actually think its just as funny that most places advertise the free use of cake stand and knife, like they are doing you a favour :rolleyes:

What did the banquetting manager say after you stopped laughing?

harlem · 03-09-2008 10:38PM

I thought I was getting a great deal 'haggling' with the hotel & getting them to agree to 2008 rates for 2009.
Then they go tell me that they want to charge me room hire because my numers are under 100!!
I think its a bit of cheek considering the few grand I'll be handing over to them for food/drink on the night!

I can't seem to get the hang of this successful haggling business!

:(

faceman · 04-09-2008 11:02AM

harlem wrote: »

I thought I was getting a great deal 'haggling' with the hotel & getting them to agree to 2008 rates for 2009.
Then they go tell me that they want to charge me room hire because my numers are under 100!!
I think its a bit of cheek considering the few grand I'll be handing over to them for food/drink on the night!

I can't seem to get the hang of this successful haggling business!:(

Look at it this way, if they have the tenacity and balls to try rip you off to your face, then why should you feel any shame for bargaining hard? The worst they can say is no.

Believe it or not, asking is simply have the battle. many of you will think this is sad, but i was in woodies a few weeks ago buying some stuff. When i got to the (customer service) till i asked if there was a discount for my bulk purchase for which they said no. I then pointed out that one of the things i was buying was slightly marked (lol) so they got a manager. I managed to get 10% off when speaking to him. ok so its not a wedding im speaking about but the concept is the same - if you dont ask you dont get!

Ratzer · 04-09-2008 02:01PM

Hi There.

Very very new to this site! 1st post in fact and apologies if this has been covered before and or if there is another specific thread.

Myself and her indoors to be are planning the wedding next year late in the year. We are about to have a look a t a few hotels. We live in Dublin but want to go head outside the pale for the wedding.
Not too far that guests will be travelling for ages so we looked at perhaps, Kildare, Laois, Carlow, Wicklow. Anyone got any suggestions on Hotels at decent prices.
We were looking at The Heritage 4* ( the one in Portlaoise itself ) and maybe the Westgrove in Kildare.. Any beenthere an have any ideas on service food or general..
Thanks and apologies again if Im on the wrong thread.

Donal94 · 17-09-2008 12:58PM

Ratzer,
I went to a wedding in the westgrove in Clane during the summer. I had a great time. The food was lovely and the room was nice. I've also eaten in the restaurant and stayed in the hotel twice.The rooms are quite cheap and the food in the restaurant was really nice. Its modern though and has a few conference halls so you might not be the only wedding there. All in all I've been very happy anytime I've been there.

Sizzler · 17-09-2008 01:40PM

Ratzer wrote: »

Hi There.

Very very new to this site! 1st post in fact and apologies if this has been covered before and or if there is another specific thread.

Myself and her indoors to be are planning the wedding next year late in the year. We are about to have a look a t a few hotels. We live in Dublin but want to go head outside the pale for the wedding.
Not too far that guests will be travelling for ages so we looked at perhaps, Kildare, Laois, Carlow, Wicklow. Anyone got any suggestions on Hotels at decent prices.
We were looking at The Heritage 4* ( the one in Portlaoise itself ) and maybe the Westgrove in Kildare.. Any beenthere an have any ideas on service food or general..
Thanks and apologies again if Im on the wrong thread.

Fair play to you if you can afford the heritage mate ! I know someone getting married there and the prices they told me were ridiculous ! Over €100 a head plus extras.

Sizzler · 17-09-2008 01:42PM

harlem wrote: »

I thought I was getting a great deal 'haggling' with the hotel & getting them to agree to 2008 rates for 2009.
Then they go tell me that they want to charge me room hire because my numers are under 100!!
I think its a bit of cheek considering the few grand I'll be handing over to them for food/drink on the night!

I can't seem to get the hang of this successful haggling business!:(

For a small fee I will haggle on your behalf

Seriously though, have you said straight out that you would not pay a room hire fee as a)Its ridiculous in light of all the other revenue they will get from you and b) X, Y & Z hotels don't charge hire fees. c) Walk away.

Honestly, you're mad if you pay for it! Also make sure they arent trying to shaft you on the bar extension fee, another rip off !

Glowing · 17-09-2008 02:13PM

Donal94 wrote: »

Ratzer,
I went to a wedding in the westgrove in Clane during the summer. I had a great time. The food was lovely and the room was nice. I've also eaten in the restaurant and stayed in the hotel twice.The rooms are quite cheap and the food in the restaurant was really nice. Its modern though and has a few conference halls so you might not be the only wedding there. All in all I've been very happy anytime I've been there.

I was there for a wedding too - must say the food was the best out of any wedding I've been to. Gorgeous!

Ratzer · 17-09-2008 02:42PM

Cheers for the advice lads.
Am used to negotiation ( its part of my job!;) )

Have been to the Heritage and was well impressed. Not as expensive as you would think!. ( its the hotel and not the Golf place ).
No function room cost
Have already negotiated 50% off corkage with more to be negotiated that was just first discussion.!!!:D
Will prob stay the night before and we all get free dinner with room discounts for those staying 2 nights.
Free champers for bridal party and punch for guests
They will provide a piano player for our arrival ( free )
Free Bridal suite on wedding night
Free suite for both sets of parents on night of wedding.
Bar ext €250.
DJ provided but not sure of price and DJ will play our music as we would like which is great, at least we can ahave a few tunes we want to hear ourselves.
Awaiting a price on the menu ( have decided to have a set one!)

So far have to say they are excellent the lad is very obliging and also had a few great ideas that of course went down a treat with the Mrs to be.

After all teh above herself didnt really want to go and see anywhere else!
Hav I 4gotten anything??

Sizzler · 17-09-2008 03:17PM

Ratzer wrote: »

Cheers for the advice lads.
Am used to negotiation ( its part of my job!;) )

Have been to the Heritage and was well impressed. Not as expensive as you would think!. ( its the hotel and not the Golf place ).
No function room cost
Have already negotiated 50% off corkage with more to be negotiated that was just first discussion.!!!:D
Will prob stay the night before and we all get free dinner with room discounts for those staying 2 nights.
Free champers for bridal party and punch for guests
They will provide a piano player for our arrival ( free )
Free Bridal suite on wedding night
Free suite for both sets of parents on night of wedding.
Bar ext €250.
DJ provided but not sure of price and DJ will play our music as we would like which is great, at least we can ahave a few tunes we want to hear ourselves.
Awaiting a price on the menu ( have decided to have a set one!)

So far have to say they are excellent the lad is very obliging and also had a few great ideas that of course went down a treat with the Mrs to be.

After all teh above herself didnt really want to go and see anywhere else!
Hav I 4gotten anything??

What about the free use of the cake stand and knife :P

I wouldnt count the free bridal suite as a benefit tbh ! Do they think you are going to pay for that

Bar extension, eh €250, no thanks.

If they have bent over that much already then business is slack and theres plenty left in the tank for you to really get the boot in

Ratzer · 19-09-2008 05:48PM

Hope so sizzler.

They are also providing free champers for bridal party and punch for guests on arrival with a piano player, so dat sounds not too bad.

But given as a few of us are heading the night before we are getting free meal in restaurant.

But still reckon I can get a few bob off the rooms that night too;).
They have a dj an the will play our music not a dope that will decide all for himself.
Have to say they have been very helpful.

Keep ya posted on what else I get

Hotel Incentives

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