hi - my brother is getting married in late sept 2005 and would like to include in the invitation a listing (2-3) of hotels for out of town guests. he is looking for a range of prices and hotels that would let you block rooms up to a certain date. he is getting married in brooklyn (tabacco warehous/e) but doesn't want rooms in brooklyn. any ideas

thanks

NYC Visitors Bureau @ 212-484-1200 or www.nycvisit.com
might help.

don't think you can block the rooms
but bureau should be able to answer
any questions.

Be aware that NYC has been slowly rebuilding after 911 & "cheap" places
start around $150-175 & escalate in
final cost w/the occupancy, city & state taxes.
hope this helps; if not ask more as
I live here & might be able to find out
more.

The only way you can "block" a number of hotel rooms is with a credit card - or a written contract - and they will ask for an advance deposit. Certainly you can reserve rooms with your CC and then cancel them - based on the hotel's rules - but the city is way too busy for a hotel to "block" anything without a guarantee.

Actually, your brother should pick one middle of the road hotel, and call the Group Sales Department. From there, he can block a set number of rooms, 10-20 is the usual minimum, and they will make him sign a contract.

The guests then individually call the hotel and make their own reservations through the group block and the deposit is taken from them.

Usually 30-45 days before the arrival date the unused rooms out of the block will be returned to the central reservations pool to be sold.

Your brother or a family member needs to contact the hotel himself. I would think that the guests would all like to stay in the same hotel.

I would suggest that he start looking now. I ran into this problem when I was planning my wedding in Sept of 2000 (okay, so that was a while ago, but here goes). Occupancy is actually back up in NYC and hotel prices are up accordingly. Also, Sept tends to be a busy time in the City -- the UN has its big meeting, lots of conventions in town, etc. I had a difficult time finding hotels that would block a certain # of rooms at a decent room rate without requiring me to guarantee a certain number of rooms. One that did was the Fitzpatrick Grand Central. It's a nice, smaller hotel that is part of an Irish chain. Nice rooms, charming service. Conveniently located very near Grand Central (hence, the name). They also have one near Bloomie's. I think I also managed to get a block at a Days Inn in the E 30's for the budget crowd.

Wow- the Tobacco Warehouse? I didn't know you could get married there. It's a block from where I live! Fantastic setting. I recommend hotels someplace downtown near the financial district/Wall Street area. The prices are significantly lower down there on weekends than weekdays (so I've heard, from friends who got married downtown).

GREAT location choice! That is going to be one VERY interesting wedding. I would suggest you look into the Embassy Suites in Battery Park City (it is Embassy Suites, right -- Ryan/others, please correct me if I'm wrong). Fantastic weekend price.

I'd get on www.hotels.com and put in your dates for the wedding and find out what hotels have space available. I REALLY like hotels.com because it gives you the price for the hotel, amenities, location, pictures and even directions.

I have used it several times now for trips I have taken to San Francisco and Atlanta.

Congratualtions on the upcoming wedding.

Hey jmp-
I'm also planning my wedding in nyc in Sept 05 (date not exactly set in stone until the space is secure). I was also considering using the Tobacco Warehouse, in addition to other loft spaces in Dumbo. (i fell upon your post by googling Toabacco warehouse bklyn looking for info, advice) If possible, I would love to be in touch with your brother and future sis-in-law and ask how they're doing it (e.g. are they getting tents, who is catering, etc..) My email is: [email protected] Thanks so much.