DCC Hotel Proposal

[Russ Chewning]

I've just been informed that they are offering rates of $110 and $119 on the internet for rooms at the Galt House. Spelling error by me not Gault. Anyway that should make for some interesting discussions tomorrow. Maybe I'm being charged in some way for the areas I'm using for the pool tables....enough for tonight!..Greg

Greg,

I really think that you need to take a hard line with these hotels, as Spider said. Tell them you realize they can afford to charge those prices during the Derby, but quite frankly, they are never going to fill up their hotel during early January, unless you bring everyone in. Tell them that because of the unique nature of the DCC, that people often won't leave the hotel for DAYS at a time, which keeps them spending money in the hotel bar and restaraunt, so you simply will not allow yourself to be raked over the coals.

If they still want to play hardball, tell them you are investigating venues in other areas then, because the DCC is most certainly not reliant on a certain area of the country in order to be profitable.

Russ

 

[Bob Jewett]

... Maybe I'm being charged in some way for the areas I'm using for the pool tables....

I think it is fairly common for conference/event attendees to pay higher than the discount rate for rooms so that the event can have the ballrooms and meeting rooms for "free".

 

[Russ Chewning]

I think it is fairly common for conference/event attendees to pay higher than the discount rate for rooms so that the event can have the ballrooms and meeting rooms for "free".

In no way, shape or form do I see an additional $36.00 per night PER ROOM as being fair. Either way, IMHO, the event organizer has ALL the leverage here, as no huge hotel in Louiseville is going to fill up in early-mid January.

Russ

 

[deadstroke7]

Convention Space

Convention space is relatively easy to come by in all major cities, but hotel with that kind of space are somewhat more difficult IMO. The executive and galt are close to the convention center there in louisville, so probably aren't going to be as forthcoming on the threat to leave. Anything held at that convention facility fills their hotels, so they aren't as 'needy' as someplace in BFE.

I have never been, but would like to go in the near future, so I hope you can get a reasonable rate or find a better venue.

FWIW

 

[Da Poet]

Greg,

I really think that you need to take a hard line with these hotels, as Spider said. Tell them you realize they can afford to charge those prices during the Derby, but quite frankly, they are never going to fill up their hotel during early January, unless you bring everyone in. Tell them that because of the unique nature of the DCC, that people often won't leave the hotel for DAYS at a time, which keeps them spending money in the hotel bar and restaraunt, so you simply will not allow yourself to be raked over the coals.

If they still want to play hardball, tell them you are investigating venues in other areas then, because the DCC is most certainly not reliant on a certain area of the country in order to be profitable.

Russ

I'm sure Greg has more than a little experience in bargaining and negotiating.

 

[gulfportdoc]

Hotels dying for biz in January...

I agree with Russ' point. January is the absolute pits for northern hotels. They ought to be happy to fill hundreds of rooms for 9 days. It's just like a convention. If they won't budge, I'm sure there's another venue or locale that would love to have the DCC at that time of year.

Doc

 

[jcrack_corn]

ship it to new orleans man.
its the poor mans vegas for conventions these days.

Crescent city classic (although we have a 5k by that name, might be trademarked)

 

[ACE]

How about "Diamond City Classic's"

 

[watchez]

I've just been informed that they are offering rates of $110 and $119 on the internet for rooms at the Galt House. Spelling error by me not Gault. Anyway that should make for some interesting discussions tomorrow. Maybe I'm being charged in some way for the areas I'm using for the pool tables....enough for tonight!..Greg

That is a pretty telling statement.

I think with over $100 per night rooms for a hotel by the airport in Louisville KY is ridiculious. No one spends anytime in their rooms anyways = I wouldn't care how nice it looked, just not a flea bag.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Yeah, and this is LOUISVILLE...not Philadelphia. $150/night is ridiculous...especially in the light of a 10 day event. The SBE is 4 days, and any other time of the year, the Radisson room rate is $69!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

You are correct it is Louisville Kentucky, where they have 5 Star Places, and Motel 6?s. might be smart to do some shopping, and drive to the venue, and save some green.

I have been to Louisville about 10 years ago, and there were
Mansion, and Slums. People all have different means, and life styles.

 

[watchez]

You are correct it is Louisville Kentucky, where they have 5 Star Places, and Motel 6?s. might be smart to do some shopping, and drive to the venue, and save some green.

I have been to Louisville about 10 years ago, and there were
Mansion, and Slums. People all have different means, and life styles.

Gee Wally - what a statement.

Can you name a city of over 250,000 - 300,000 people that doesn't have mansion and slums and people of all different means and lifestyles. I would think 95% of them would fit into that diversity.

 

[yobagua]

Greg we trust you and Diamond

Greg you do what you got to do. Discussing business propositions on the forum is an exercise in futility. I can tell by a good percentage of the posts that people are not aware of what costs are today and where the power in negotiations are. Considering that the Diamond base is in Louisville the cost of moving to another city is pretty high. The way you have conducted business on our behalf these past 9 years has been more than we could have expected.
I remember when you could get a great room in Vegas on the strip for $30 bucks. Those days are over.

 

[3andstop]

I'll bet Atlantic City would love something like 200 bus loads of gambling folk in their neck of the woods for 2 weeks.

 

[jay helfert]

Yeah, and this is LOUISVILLE...not Philadelphia. $150/night is ridiculous...especially in the light of a 10 day event. The SBE is 4 days, and any other time of the year, the Radisson room rate is $69!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Right on Scott. You can get much better rates just by cruising the net. Louisville is a depressed market anyway. With the looming recession and less people traveling, it is definitely becoming a buyers market for hotel rooms. Hotels that don't get this message will be closing up shop in a couple of years.

Many hotel chains will be hurting within the next year. If the people at the Galt and Executive West don't understand the state of the economy, then shame on them. They should be fighting to have this very lucrative event at their facility. Greg is in a position to drive a hard bargain.

He can always move it to Vegas and get VERY attractive room rates, plus free meeting space.

 

[jay helfert]

For the business you take in, Greg, you have the juice to red-line their proposals. I'd tell Gualt $99/night and no parking fee...take it or leave it.

Right on Dave. Sounds like you have negotiated with hotels before. At the L.A. Billiard Expo in 2001, the Burbank Hilton wanted $139-159 a night. I told them to get it under $100 and we would have a deal. I guaranted them 600 room nights over five days. pLUS THEY GOT ALL THE BAR AND FOOD REVENUE. They said they couldn't do it, but I told them to speak to their bosses (the owners) and get back with me. Two days later, I had $89 rooms for everyone! IT CAN BE DONE!

 

[jay helfert]

I've just been informed that they are offering rates of $110 and $119 on the internet for rooms at the Galt House. Spelling error by me not Gault. Anyway that should make for some interesting discussions tomorrow. Maybe I'm being charged in some way for the areas I'm using for the pool tables....enough for tonight!..Greg

Greg my friend, I GUARANTEE you can get a $99 or even $89 rate if you hold the line. Make sure they see the room numbers from past events at the Executive West. Also, have them check what the Executive West did in bar and food business. You have a very attractive event to offer them. They should be wining and dining you to get your business.

 

[jay helfert]

I think it is fairly common for conference/event attendees to pay higher than the discount rate for rooms so that the event can have the ballrooms and meeting rooms for "free".

The high number of room nights is the yardstick they go by. When you can book hundreds of rooms, you can bargain dramatically on everything. Meeting space is a bargaining tool that hotels use to book large events. I NEVER pay for meeting space for any tournament I put on. If it isn't part of the deal, then I tell them to forget it!

 

[jay helfert]

I would also inquire of the Galt House what is their occupancy rate in early January. I suspect they have had some lean times in past years. After New Year's is a rough time in the hotel business. It's easy to check this out via the internet. Check room rates anywhere during this time frame. Unless it's New York or Los Angeles, you will see bargain rates almost across the board.

Sorry for all these posts, but I've been there and done that.

 

[realkingcobra]

Ocean Shores, Washington is LOADED with hotels, and a tribal casino, a very NICE casino. For what it would cost you for a room for one day in the summer, you can get for a week in the winter. And, the casino would more than likely PAY to have an event like this at their casino, as well as most hotels. Ocean Shores is a ghost town in the winter, but man are they packed in the summer

Just an idea, Glen

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Right on Dave. Sounds like you have negotiated with hotels before. At the L.A. Billiard Expo in 2001, the Burbank Hilton wanted $139-159 a night. I told them to get it under $100 and we would have a deal. I guaranted them 600 room nights over five days. pLUS THEY GOT ALL THE BAR AND FOOD REVENUE. They said they couldn't do it, but I told them to speak to their bosses (the owners) and get back with me. Two days later, I had $89 rooms for everyone! IT CAN BE DONE!

A few. I'd have a blast negotiating the DCC hotel contract. Greg has more juice than Minute Maid in this situation. Everything you said was nuts-on.

I'm about to go to sleep in about 5 mins without a worry in my mind about DCC for next year. Greg is smarrrrrrrter than your average bear. I'd put him in against whoever the Galt has on their end any day in this situation. Good luck "Sally" or "Rick" or whatever your name tag says in the Galt office.