Questions to Ask When Choosing Guest Rooms

You may want to ask the following questions when considering rooms for your out of town guests, regardless of whether you prefer a hotel, resort, bed and breakfast, lodge, inn or motel.  Absolutely take a tour of the facility if at all possible and look online for reviews (EasyEventPlanning.com may have reviews for guest rooms in your area).  Ask to see the rooms that your guests would be staying in (some hotels may want to show you their renovated rooms but can’t guarantee your guests would get those specific rooms).  You may want to offer your guests of two facilities in different prices ranges.

1.    What are your group room rates?
2.    How many rooms do I need to reserve to get a discount?
3.    Is there a discount if I book my event at your hotel as well?
4.    Is there a complimentary room for the bride and groom once a certain number of rooms are reserved?
5.    Can you offer any free upgrades?
6.    Can I reserve a block of rooms next to each other?
7.    Do you offer any special services for groups?
8.    What types of rooms are available (suites, adjoining rooms, bed sizes, etc)?
9.    Will you charge extra to deliver thank you gifts to our guests’ rooms or upon check-in?
10.    Are there any other groups staying on the same date?  What kind of groups? 
11.    Do you have smoking rooms available?
12.    Do you have honeymoon suites?  What makes them different?
13.    What restaurants are nearby?  Any within walking distance?
14.    Do you have a rewards program?
15.    Will there be any construction taking place on my event date?
16.    Where are the nearest medical facilities?
17.    What happens if the hotel gets overbooked and some of my guests can’t get a room? Do you provide free transportation to an alternative hotel?  Do you have overflow arrangements in place already?
18.    When will my unreserved rooms be released from the block? 
19.    What are the check-in and check-out times?  Is there any flexibility on those times?
20.    What is your cancelation policy?
21.    Does the area get loud at night?  Are there bars/clubs nearby?  Can I specify the block is in a quiet area of the hotel?
22.    When was the hotel built? 
23.    Have all of your rooms been recently renovated?
24.    Are all of your rooms air-conditioned?
25.    Can I get a contact name and cell phone number for the group reservations manager? 
26.    How is the cell phone service at the hotel? 
27.    Is your facility easy to find?
28.    Do you have a website?

What amenities do you offer?
29.    On-site restaurant?
30.    Wireless internet access in all the rooms?  Is there a fee?
31.    Refrigerator and microwave in all rooms?
32.    Coffee maker in all rooms?
33.    Computers where guests can check email?  Is there a fee?
34.    Pool?  Is it indoor or outdoor?  Is it heated?
35.    Whirlpool?
36.    Fitness room?
37.    Beauty salon?
38.    Concierge service?
39.    Gift shop?
40.    Jacuzzi suites?  How much more do they cost?
41.    Cribs, rollaway beds, etc – is there a cost?
42.    Shuttle service to/from the airport?  What is the cost?
43.    Free breakfast?  Is it a hot breakfast?
44.    An insured & bonded babysitting service?
45.    Golf course?
46.    Kid’s playroom, arcade, activities?