Meeting Room Block

Term from Event Management industry explained for recruiters

A Meeting Room Block is a set of hotel rooms reserved for event attendees at a special group rate. Event planners secure these rooms in advance for conferences, weddings, or corporate meetings. This helps ensure all attendees have convenient, affordable accommodation options near the event venue. It's similar to making a bulk hotel reservation, but with special contract terms and often cost savings. Other common names for this are "group room block," "hotel room block," or "event accommodation block."

Examples in Resumes

Negotiated and managed Meeting Room Block contracts for 500+ attendees at annual conference

Secured Room Block with 15% discount for corporate summit attendees

Coordinated multiple Meeting Room Blocks across 3 hotels for international trade show

Typical job title: "Event Managers"

Also try searching for:

Event Planner Meeting Planner Conference Coordinator Corporate Event Manager Event Operations Manager Group Housing Coordinator Convention Services Manager

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you handle attrition clauses in room block contracts?

Expected Answer: A senior event manager should explain how they negotiate favorable attrition rates (typically 10-20%), monitor pickup rates, and implement strategies to fill rooms before cutoff dates to avoid penalties.

Q: What's your strategy for managing room blocks across multiple properties?

Expected Answer: Should discuss experience coordinating with different hotels, managing varied contract terms, tracking reservations across properties, and ensuring consistent communication with all stakeholders.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you determine the right size for a room block?

Expected Answer: Should explain analyzing past event data, considering event location, timing, attendee demographics, and building in buffer room while avoiding over-blocking.

Q: What factors do you consider when negotiating room block rates?

Expected Answer: Should mention seasonality, local events, group size, length of stay, additional services needed, and competitive analysis of nearby hotels.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What information do you need before starting to plan a room block?

Expected Answer: Should list basic details like event dates, estimated attendance, preferred location, budget constraints, and any special requirements for attendees.

Q: How do you communicate room block information to event attendees?

Expected Answer: Should describe creating clear booking instructions, sharing reservation deadlines, providing booking codes, and following up with reminder communications.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic room block coordination
  • Attendee communication
  • Reservation tracking
  • Simple contract review

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Contract negotiation
  • Budget management
  • Multiple property coordination
  • Attrition management

Senior (5+ years)

  • Strategic planning for large events
  • Complex contract negotiation
  • Risk management
  • Vendor relationship management

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No experience with contract negotiations
  • Unfamiliar with attrition rates and cancellation policies
  • Poor understanding of seasonal pricing impacts
  • Lack of experience with group booking systems