Again with groups

Lovely couple stopped in a month ago looking for rooms for their family for their wedding. They were very nice. I explained they would need to reserve quickly as it was a busy weekend, which they knew having already made the rounds and found most places full.
Figured I'd never hear from them again. Wrong. A couple of their guests called but none would commit to giving their cc info. One held all the rooms on her card while I waited for everyone to call individually.
One person called, basically wanted to know what the cancellation was and wasn't happy with the terms.
I have one committed room out of 7. The rest have never called back after repeated attempts to contact them.
This is why the terms are so severe. Happy couple loves the location, the situation, the idea of family all together. Family does not feel the same. ;-)

Well the one committed couple will hopefully share their wonderful stay with you during the wedding reception. And the other family members will all be thinking: this could have been our story too.

So, how long are you holding those rooms and if they are not cancelled within your specified time, will you charge them the full amount for all 7 room?

Iris said:

So, how long are you holding those rooms and if they are not cancelled within your specified time, will you charge them the full amount for all 7 room?.

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I held them for 5 days. It seems they've been talking to each other but not to me. The one person who was trying to get them organized is very disappointed that they went off on their own tangents, but that's not my problem.
So far no one has incurred any expenses.
I canceled the outstanding rooms myself. If they want them at this point they're competing with everyone else. And they've been told they cannot host their party here with so few rooms taken.
So the ones who thought they would find other accommodations and still come here to socialize spoiled it for the rest.

Morticia said:

Iris said:

So, how long are you holding those rooms and if they are not cancelled within your specified time, will you charge them the full amount for all 7 room?.

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I held them for 5 days. It seems they've been talking to each other but not to me. The one person who was trying to get them organized is very disappointed that they went off on their own tangents, but that's not my problem.
So far no one has incurred any expenses.
I canceled the outstanding rooms myself. If they want them at this point they're competing with everyone else. And they've been told they cannot host their party here with so few rooms taken.
So the ones who thought they would find other accommodations and still come here to socialize spoiled it for the rest.
.

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This is the point where I always hope that they cannot find rooms somewhere else and mine are already booked by the time they finally get their s**t together.

similar. bride 'held' the house for her wedding. time is getting short and no reservations. finally got a hold of her, 'oh, no, we found another place!.' Gee, thanks for getting back to me.
I told DH, big learning experience about taking big deposits.

50% non-refundable deposit when booked. Full payment 30 days prior. Non-refundable. One person must take responsibility for the whole party.
You get no lookie loos that way. No deposit, no rooms.

its the ones who you warn its a very busy time and they need to tell all family to get booked asap - this is say 3 months out - then 2 weeks to go you get irate relatives looking for rooms "well I told you so"

Breakfast Diva said:

50% non-refundable deposit when booked. Full payment 30 days prior. Non-refundable. One person must take responsibility for the whole party.
You get no lookie loos that way. No deposit, no rooms..

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That's the usual procedure. I wasn't home when they called so they had 2 weeks to sort themselves out and they didn't.
The bride is upset. Some of the family are upset. But they had 2 weeks to figure this out.

Morticia said:

Breakfast Diva said:

50% non-refundable deposit when booked. Full payment 30 days prior. Non-refundable. One person must take responsibility for the whole party.
You get no lookie loos that way. No deposit, no rooms..

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That's the usual procedure. I wasn't home when they called so they had 2 weeks to sort themselves out and they didn't.
The bride is upset. Some of the family are upset. But they had 2 weeks to figure this out.
.

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Morticia said:

That's the usual procedure. I wasn't home when they called so they had 2 weeks to sort themselves out and they didn't.
The bride is upset. Some of the family are upset. But they had 2 weeks to figure this out.

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Yes, they always seem to catch us when we're vulnerable. That rule though is one I will never waiver from. Learned my lesson the hard way.

Upshot? Entire family canceled.

TheBeachHouse said:

similar. bride 'held' the house for her wedding. time is getting short and no reservations. finally got a hold of her, 'oh, no, we found another place!.' Gee, thanks for getting back to me.
I told DH, big learning experience about taking big deposits..

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This reminds me of so many tenant prospects who asked me to hold an apt for them. Right, so u call me back next week because u found something else?

Morticia said:

Upshot? Entire family canceled..

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Deposit?

Morticia said:

Upshot? Entire family canceled..

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I forgot to mention, no joke, the 30+ phone calls this took to make $0.

Just for fun, they all called back to make really sure their reservations were cancelled. It's like a circus.
Unlike the people all from the same area who booked 4 rooms individually over the course of 2 weeks so I didn't know they were together to give them the 30 day cancellation for a group. Another holiday weekend.

Morticia said:

Just for fun, they all called back to make really sure their reservations were cancelled. It's like a circus.
Unlike the people all from the same area who booked 4 rooms individually over the course of 2 weeks so I didn't know they were together to give them the 30 day cancellation for a group. Another holiday weekend..

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Morticia said:

Just for fun, they all called back to make really sure their reservations were cancelled. It's like a circus.
Unlike the people all from the same area who booked 4 rooms individually over the course of 2 weeks so I didn't know they were together to give them the 30 day cancellation for a group. Another holiday weekend.

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Sounds like what I'm going through right now. Started as a simple all-inclusive elopement. Just the couple. Now family has all called and booked rooms. This really should have been a whole house rental. They were going to make it a surprise for the wedding couple. Uhhhh, not a good idea! It's the father of the groom that is driving me nuts. Now I've become a wedding coordinator and I didn't sign up for that!

Breakfast Diva said:

Morticia said:

Just for fun, they all called back to make really sure their reservations were cancelled. It's like a circus.
Unlike the people all from the same area who booked 4 rooms individually over the course of 2 weeks so I didn't know they were together to give them the 30 day cancellation for a group. Another holiday weekend..

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Morticia said:

Just for fun, they all called back to make really sure their reservations were cancelled. It's like a circus.
Unlike the people all from the same area who booked 4 rooms individually over the course of 2 weeks so I didn't know they were together to give them the 30 day cancellation for a group. Another holiday weekend.

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Sounds like what I'm going through right now. Started as a simple all-inclusive elopement. Just the couple. Now family has all called and booked rooms. This really should have been a whole house rental. They were going to make it a surprise for the wedding couple. Uhhhh, not a good idea! It's the father of the groom that is driving me nuts. Now I've become a wedding coordinator and I didn't sign up for that!
.

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When this group started hemming and hawing and looking for lower prices, I contacted the bride. Told her what was happening and that she had gone from 7 rooms to 4 so she could no longer have the common space for her group.
Then the rest decided to go for the cheaper prices somewhere else. Not sure who got them.
I'm not sure I wouldn't let the couple in your case know their honeymoon is being crashed. I'd be peeved to find my family all in my face when we'd finally gotten away from them!
Of course I would help a little. That's obvious given the 30+ phone calls I just had. But if dad wanted me to plan everything? Or kept calling to get me to do xyz? Not my job except to let him know he couldn't bring in a catered affair. Etc.

Morticia said:

Morticia said:

Upshot? Entire family canceled..

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I forgot to mention, no joke, the 30+ phone calls this took to make $0.
.

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Yikes. Sympathy. I might not be so nice on the phone after the 10th call. I think you get the week's PITA award.

Skamokawa said:

Morticia said:

Morticia said:

Upshot? Entire family canceled..

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I forgot to mention, no joke, the 30+ phone calls this took to make $0.
.

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Yikes. Sympathy. I might not be so nice on the phone after the 10th call. I think you get the week's PITA award.
.

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Skamokawa said:

Yikes. Sympathy. I might not be so nice on the phone after the 10th call. I think you get the week's PITA award.

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Not sure I've ever given it up. ;-)

Morticia said:

Skamokawa said:

Morticia said:

Morticia said:

Upshot? Entire family canceled..

Click to expand...

I forgot to mention, no joke, the 30+ phone calls this took to make $0.
.

Click to expand...

Yikes. Sympathy. I might not be so nice on the phone after the 10th call. I think you get the week's PITA award.
.

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Skamokawa said:

Yikes. Sympathy. I might not be so nice on the phone after the 10th call. I think you get the week's PITA award.

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Not sure I've ever given it up. ;-)
.

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Morticia said:

Skamokawa said:

Yikes. Sympathy. I might not be so nice on the phone after the 10th call. I think you get the week's PITA award.

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Not sure I've ever given it up. ;-)

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Mort holds the lifetime achievement award in this department.