Wondering how to go about booking Melbourne wedding accommodation for your guests? If so, hotel room blocks are your best friend. In this article, we share 11 helpful tips to make booking group hotel reservations a breeze.
If you’re planning to tie the knot in Melbourne and have guests travelling from interstate or overseas to attend your wedding, you’ll want to consider booking group accommodation. Organising hotel room blocks ensures your guests have somewhere to retire in style after the wedding celebrations wind down. Many hotels offer discounts on group bookings so it’s a win-win!
For those wondering what a hotel room block is, we’ve got you! Blocks typically contain 10-30 rooms that you can reserve at a reduced rate for guests looking to stay overnight near the wedding venue. Blocking out rooms guarantees there is space for everyone and that family and friends can stay together, even in busy seasons.
Sound good? To help you get started, here are 11 tips for booking hotel room blocks in Melbourne. We’ll cover everything from the best time book to the easiest way to share details with your guests.
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Book Melbourne Hotel RoomsKey things to consider when booking hotel room blocks for your Melbourne wedding accommodation:
Tip #1: Start looking at hotel options about eight months out from the wedding.
Melbourne is a popular destination for weddings, especially in the spring and autumn, so you’ll want to book your room blocks early. Likewise, if your wedding is taking place alongside one of the city’s major sporting events or festivals, accommodation may be in short supply. Booking around eight months in advance is ideal, as you’ll have access to a wide range of hotels and the best group rates while giving your guests plenty of time to plan.
Tip #2: Make sure your chosen Melbourne wedding accommodation options are near your venue.
While this may sound obvious, it isn’t quite as simple as searching “Melbourne wedding accommodation” and selecting the first hotel with availability. As Australia’s second-largest city, you’ll need to consider the travelling distance from the accommodation to your venue. Particularly if your guests are from out of town and don’t know the area. Hotels within walking distance are perfect, as well as those no more than 30 minutes away by road.
Tip #3: Shop around at different hotels and negotiate to get the best rate.
Booking an overnight stay at the best hotel wedding venues in Melbourne isn’t always the most wallet-friendly option. However, agreeing on a discounted price for room blocks can help, as can shopping around for alternative accommodation nearby. And if you’ve asked for a lower rate and they won’t budge, you may be able to negotiate free parking and other perks instead. You could even push for a complimentary honeymoon suite!
Tip #4: Ask for courtesy blocks so you’re not paying for unfilled guest rooms.
If you need less than 30 rooms, you may be able to request courtesy blocks. While contracted room blocks involve paying a deposit and often cancellation fees, courtesy blocks have no financial risk attached. Instead, you’ll reserve rooms free of charge, and any that aren’t booked by the cut-off date will be left to the public. Just make sure your guests know the deadline, so they don’t miss out.
Tip #5: Work out how many guests will be travelling to your wedding.
When sending invites, make a note of any guests who’ll be travelling into the city from elsewhere. As most people attend weddings in couples or with friends, you can then halve this number to estimate the rooms required. If unsure, you can also ask guests to let you know if they would like accommodation when they RSVP. If 20+ guests want rooms, you should definitely room block!
Tip #6: Remember that it’s always better to overestimate your room numbers.
Provided you can secure courtesy blocks, it’s a good idea to add a small buffer to the number of rooms you think you’ll need. That way, you’ll have space to accommodate anyone you may have forgotten about and those who don’t want to share. As well as travelling guests, your wedding party and close family will likely want to stay at the same hotel, so don’t forget to factor that in.
Tip #7: Reserve room blocks at different hotels to cater for all budgets.
Guest room prices at hotel wedding venues in Melbourne and other nearby accommodations can vary greatly. With that in mind, if you’re not paying for your guest’s rooms, you should aim to reserve room blocks at several different rates. Ideally, try to provide rooms with a price difference of around $50 to make sure guests working with a lower budget are able to book comfortably.
Tip #8: Stick to a maximum of three hotels to avoid confusion.
Giving guests options when it comes to wedding accommodation in Melbourne is great, but avoid overcomplicating things. Offering two or three options with a variety of facilities, such as accessible rooms and parking, will cover most guests’ needs and keep the decision-making process simple. If you can, choose hotels near each other so family and friends can share transport if they wish.
Tip #9: Ask about check-in and check-out times.
Before booking room blocks, make sure that the check-in times don’t clash with your ceremony or reception. If possible, request early check-in to give your guests time to get ready if they’re not arriving until your big day. Arranging late check-out the day after will also be much appreciated!
Tip #10: Include information about your hotel blocks on your wedding website.
Once rooms have been reserved, you need to let your guests know. The easiest way to do this is to upload all of the information they’ll need, including links to the hotels, maps and travel advice, to your wedding website. That way, everything is in one place and can be updated as needed. Then you can add the web address to your paper invites or send a link when contacting guests via email.
11. Remind guests closer to the date so they don’t miss out on Melbourne wedding accommodation.
You should also send your guests an email reminder as the cut-off for booking your suggested wedding accommodation in Melbourne approaches. This is often 30-60 days before the reservation date, but be sure to double-check it with the hotel. If your room blocks are contracted, and you’re worried you may face a penalty for not filling the rooms, you could also ask more local guests if they’d like discounted accommodation.
