Here a few tips for choosing a successful meeting venue while receiving the "best deal":
- When searching for a property and working with a salesperson, ask if there are any special promotions or discounts running. Many times, especially now, hotels are offering crazy deals and great value-adds.
- When you become a fan of their facebook fan page or follow the hotel on twitter, you will often get insider information and stay updated on special promotions.
- Check the online reviews for the hotel and schedule a site visit with the hotel salesperson. This is a free service and many times, you will meet the key hotel personnel.
- If your dates are flexible, ask for value dates or hot dates. The hotel is willing to negotiate a little more on these needy periods.
- Know the type of hotel you are working with, whether it is a resort - leisure type which will be more expensive on weekend travel vs. a corporate - business type which will be more expensive on the weekdays.
- If you need a block of rooms, always check the best available rate or "going rate" for the dates requested.
- Use the meeting planner tools. Many hotels offer free online tools such as a personalized group webpage that enables your attendees to book their rooms directly from the link.
- If you have multiple events throughout the year, Hilton provides a free service to bid each event out to multiple Hilton brand properties. Ask your sales manager for details.
- Ask for Hilton Meeting Planner Points, this is considered a value-add, but many hotels are willing to negotiate it into the agreement.
- Many hotels have the ability to modify their banquet menus. It is always best to present your meal budget ahead of time so the sales person can create a customized menu for your event.
- You will receive more incentives if you book a multi year or multi event agreement with the hotel. Ask your sales manager for details.
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