How to Help Wedding Guests Save Money on Hotel Rooms
Whether you have a lot of out of town guests, are hosting a destination wedding or just have guests who don’t want to drive after the reception, many of your wedding guests may ask your advice on reserving a hotel room. Most likely, they will ask you where to book a room as well how to save money at local hotels. A 2007 report done by Smith Travel Research revealed that the average U.S. hotel room price is now over $100 per night, so many guests may be concerned about cost. However, don’t get discouraged. According to Daniel from ChicagoHotels.org, there are two easy ways your out of town guests can save money on a hotel room.
According to Daniel, hotels that cater to business guests often offer discounts on the weekends. This is because their main clientele only need rooms during the week. It is a basic example of supply and demand. During the week, prices are higher because demand is higher. However, on the weekends, prices are lower because demand is lower. To find a hotel that typically caters to business travelers, simply do a little online research and make a few phone calls to local hotels. You may want to make a list of hotels in your area that typically cater to business professionals and then share this information with your wedding guests.
It is common knowledge that waiting until the last minute is the best way to score great travel deals. This applies to everything from hotel rooms to flights. This is because companies lose money if they do not fill up their hotel rooms or plane seats, so they are willing to offer steep discounts to fill up those seats at the last minute. The downside to this approach is risking the possibility of not being to get a hotel room or flight that meshes with your wedding schedule. Avoid this tactic if you are planning a wedding on a holiday weekend. Travel arrangements are best made in advance for busy weekends. However, this may be a good option for local guests who don’t want to drive home after the wedding because they can always make other arrangements if they have trouble finding a room.
While you can share helpful information with your wedding guests, you are not responsible for booking the rooms for them. Give them the information they need to make an informed decision that fits with their personal finances; then let them handle the rest. After all, you are planning a wedding!
I have heard from pros that booking on a Sunday is the best day of the week to book a hotel room.