I would like to defer the room blocks at a local hotel to someone who will be using the rooms. It would be very helpful if someone could tally the number of rooms needed, the number of nights the rooms will be needed (Friday and Saturday, just Saturday????), and that person could deal with that aspect of the reunion. I am trying to make it all work, but if someone could take this string of the event and get it going, it would be much appreciated. The Sheraton Jetport's number is 610-266-1000 and their contact page is Sheraton Jetport Contact Page .
Let me know so we can work on this aspect of the reunion.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Block of Rooms
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OK I talked to Helen at the Jetport. She said someone from the class has to give a CC to hold the rooms. Normally they block 15 rooms. In order to get a block of rooms they require us to use 75% of them or we get charged for the portion that isn't booked. 15 blocked rooms would require 11 or we will be charged for anything under 11. After talking to her I beleive one of the class officers needs to handle this since only they have access to class funds.
Room rates are $119 for a standard room and $139 for a suite. Friday and Saturday nights. (I beleive even without rooms being blocked you probobly could get this rate with AAA or any other discount program.) The only way to truly know how many rooms we need is to put out that survey that was previously being discussed. Maybe someone could put the survey out in the mail before the actual reunion invitation so we know what to expect. Kind of like a save the date thing........They could also at that point ask for song requests and any other info. wanted to make the reunion more fun. Hate to put it off on the officers again but is this something they should do??? or is there someone else interested in taking on this task??? DAVE...you previously mentioned doing invites??? I am sure the class funds would cover mailing costs as well.
Thoughts welcome??? I hope this helps and makes sense.
just checked the AAA online rate for 2 double beds is $110.
HMMMMMMM
Thanks for the input Michelle, but we inquired about the Jetport because we are looking to stay at a hotel that is close, but more importantly, we are looking to stay at a hotel that has a late night lounge.
I wonder what the Jetport's rate is for non-AAA members.
Can we get an idea on the blog how many people are interested in getting a room? Count me in for Saturday night.
Deanna....you can try but we still need a number of rooms and an account to hold them with.
Michelle....not sure what you mean by what they are trying to do to us I think that is the price you pay for them to hold the block of rooms since it keeps them from booking with anyone else. Is this not typically the scenario for block rates???
I think the regular rate was $125 so its not a great savings but mainly a guarentee of availability.
I just checked the Jetport's website, and was quoted $110.00 for a room with 2 double beds, or for rooms with a king and a sofa-bed.
seems they charge extra for BLOCKed rooms. I really don't know what else to say it's a group choice as to what to do. The invite could always just say book early to get the best rate at the Jetport.
they said we had to use 75% of the blocked rooms or be charged for 75% if we block 15, 11 would have to be booked and yes they said they would hold them until 1 month prior but they do need a CC from the class to cover the possible loss. also the prices I wrote were guarenteed but you can get it for less elsewhere.
I have a call into Tim Marhefka, who is president of the Lehigh Valley Hotel Association, and also manages the Hampton Inn / Best Western at 512 & 22. They have a night club "The Bar with No Name" and a DJ every weekend. Being a CHS graduate and a friend he may be able to do us well with prices. I will post what he comes up with after we speak. If this is too far from the Blue Monkey.....let me know now so we don't waste anymore time persuing this route.
Hopefull this works. Go to
www.gateway-cc.com/bestwestern_entertainment.php
doesn't matter to me at all I just wanted to get the thread going. I would HIGHLY suggest keeping it close if people will be drinking which I am sure they will.
There is also a brand new Holiday Inn Express coming on Shoenersville Road. It should be completed before our reunion. In fact I will make sure it is because we are inspecting it throughout the construction of it.
The Jetport / Holiday Inn Express and Best Western are all relatively close to each other.
I think Tim will come through for us.
Tim - $110.00 night is priceless for you to get away for a night from the terrors you have on your hands.
I think you are all doing great with these plans....just make sure I have a room for saturday night and let me know whatever the cost....i'm not worried, because it will be great to not have to drive anywhere else!
I don't think 110 is a bad rate. Blocking rooms would be ok, but anyone who needs one could just book it now on their own and be done with it.
well said Longe but not everyone is using the blog. Why I don't know.....do you think they have better things to do???
I know I said I wanted to defer this, but maybe Mr. Long is correct in letting each individual deal with his/her room issues. I know that people wanted a block of rooms (so the party could continue), but it may be more difficult to coordinate this than any other part of the reunion.
Continue your comments and see what comes from it.
I don't think there is a need for a quick decision to be made. I would keep discussion open for about a week (not everyone is an every day blogger) and come to some kind of consensus (maybe with 2 hotels to choose).
At that point, we could:
1 Add a 'clean' post about the hotel situation, and poll the out-of-towners to only comment with where they plan on staying.
2 Send out a mass email with the same info, people could respond by email, too.
3 Send out the invitations after that which would include the hotel situation, more specifically, stating where the majority of people will be staying.
We may not end up with enough to to get a bulk rate, so individual arrangements may be the way to go.
I agree with most of what everyone is saying.....
I agree we should send a postcard/letter out with a "Save the Date" kind of message and list available hotels with normal rates in the area.
We don't have e-mail addresses for everyone so I'm not sure that's the best approach.
I do not need a postcard/letter since I visit the blog regularly and know all the details. Maybe we could post a site where others can ask to be removed from a mail listing to help save costs?
I spoke with Tim Marhefka today. He is working on rates for us, which he said will be much better than what we have so far. He said a block of rooms is 10, Kings and Double beds. We will not be held responsible for the rooms and if not reserved the rooms will release 30 days prior to the event. He said he will call me tomorrow with more details and block off the number of rooms that we feel will be adequate. His calendar shows nothing for the October 7 weekend. Again we will be able to go the "Bar with No Name" which has a DJ for the evening. I'll post more updates once I get them.
randy, is there a shuttle from catty to the hotel? if so what would be the cost for that? i think this might sound like the better deal!
Let me see what I can come up with.
Shuttle? Tastykake van?
great idea Andrea.....I really worry about the drinking and driving. A dear friend of mine's husband was involved in a very serious Drunk driving accident back in November. (many lives were torn apart) So I am a bit sensitive about that issue.
LongE will be drinking so I think he is out for driving. Could be interesting though. Maybe his brother is up for it??????? I haven't been behind the wheel of one of those in a long time. Tastykakes and beer....now there is a combination.
MJ - I made a few phone calls to limo type service companies. There is also the trolley style shuttles but I don't know the name of the company that offers them. Any ideas?
Randy, I know the president of Eaton Coach. Let me know what your ideas are and I can get some pricing.
Robb
Enogh witht he Hotel stuff, Whats up with the golf?
Robb "hat trick" Pio - anything that you can arrange would be a great help. Price it out any way that works for us. I'll keep working on the hotel thing with Tim Marhefka.
Golf - up to 12 people so far. Hope to get some more hackers out there.
The hotel that is selected may provide transportation free of charge. It's something to look into.
longe is probably right...most places usually offer a shuttle service! but hey, i won't argue with a limo ride randy!!
mj, i had a similar experience too and won't do the drink/drive thing. if we don't get some kind of driving service, i won't drink until we get to the hotel...as long as someone provides the car!
what the hell did i just say??? ha!
I think Andrea got another head start on us all.
I'm still waiting for a call back from Tim Marhefka. I will call him on Monday if I don't hear anything over the weekend.
Randy, etc. Any update on the hotel situation? Or decisions made?
I have not heard anything back from Tim Marhefka and I have not had the time to call him back so far this week. The hotel is right near my office so I'll just try and stop in on my way back to the office one of these days.
Here is the deal
Rooms will cost $109.00 plus tax per night. I had them put on hold two blocks of rooms (20 total) for now. We can add to that if needed. We are not responsible for the rooms and they will release 30 days before our event if not reserved. I asked about transportation but that is already booked due to a wedding. I say lets be wedding crashers!!!!!!
When you call to reserve please ask for the Catty Class of 1986 for the special rate. The local number is 610 866-5800. I will also post the 800 number for those of you out of the area. I sent the contract to the class officers so they can see it. Please let me know if this is what we want to do.
Thanks for taking this on Randy, I think those needing a room will thank you, and I already have.
Freeman - I sent the agreement to Matt and Dave to forward to you and the other officers. We should decide soon if this is where we want to go after the Blue Monkey. Again, I had them hold 2 blocks for now. Please read the agreement and if you want I can sign and get it to them. I am still working on transportation from the Blue Monkey to the hotel.
The toll free # is 1-888-222-8512 and ask for the Catty Class of 1986 event for the special rate.
Randy, it sounds like a good plan and gives people a lot of time to make reservations, with no obligation to us.
We can continue to discuss transporation.
We really should get a flyer out to those out of towners who may need to book a room.
I do not need to receive a flyer so please don't waste the postage.
THANKS Randy for following through on this!!
The hotel also said they would do a mailer if we needed them to. This might save Dave a lot of grief. Pauko - you may want to give Connie (hotel)a call to find out more details on the mailers.
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