Room Block
A Room Block is a set of hotel rooms reserved for a specific event, like a conference, wedding, or corporate meeting. When event planners mention "room blocks" on their resumes, they're referring to the process of negotiating and managing group hotel reservations at discounted rates. This is a crucial skill in event planning because it involves getting better prices for event attendees while ensuring everyone stays close to the event venue. It's similar to making a bulk reservation, just like buying items in bulk usually costs less per item.
Examples in Resumes
Managed Room Block negotiations for 500+ attendees at annual industry conference, securing 20% discount
Coordinated multiple Room Blocks across 3 hotels for international trade show
Successfully handled Room Block and Hotel Block management for corporate events ranging from 50-1000 attendees
Typical job title: "Event Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Event Managers
Professional Associations
Online Communities
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you handle a situation where your room block is not filling up as expected?
Expected Answer: A senior event manager should discuss strategies like adjusting block size, negotiating attrition clauses, promoting the room block to attendees, and having backup plans for releasing rooms without penalties.
Q: What factors do you consider when negotiating room block contracts?
Expected Answer: Should mention considering peak nights, shoulder nights, attrition rates, cancellation policies, comp room ratios, and building in flexibility for unexpected changes in attendance.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you determine the right size for a room block?
Expected Answer: Should explain analyzing historical data, considering event timing, location, attendee demographics, and building in buffer for unexpected changes.
Q: Explain your process for managing multiple room blocks across different hotels.
Expected Answer: Should discuss tracking systems, communication methods with hotels and attendees, and strategies for managing different rate structures and booking deadlines.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is a room block attrition clause?
Expected Answer: Should explain that attrition is the percentage of rooms that must be filled to avoid penalties, and demonstrate understanding of basic contract terms.
Q: How do you communicate room block information to event attendees?
Expected Answer: Should describe various communication channels like email, event website, registration materials, and basic tracking of bookings.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic room block coordination
- Communication with hotels
- Tracking reservations
- Understanding hotel contracts
Mid (2-5 years)
- Negotiating hotel contracts
- Managing multiple room blocks
- Handling group booking issues
- Understanding attrition clauses
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic room block planning
- Complex contract negotiation
- Crisis management
- Multi-venue coordination
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with hotel contract negotiation
- Unfamiliarity with attrition rates and cancellation policies
- Poor communication skills
- Lack of experience with group booking systems
Related Terms
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