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    Contact Me!

    Please feel free to contact me anytime by email, Twitter,  or on my phone at (312) 961-5486.

    In addition you may reach me by US Mail at:

    Michael M. McCurry
    515 S. Knight Ave.
    Chicago, IL  60068

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    2 comments to Contact

    • Beatriz Garcia
      July 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm · Reply

      Hello Mike,

      From what I’ve read through Linked In and your Corner, you seem the right person to ask a tough question on hotel negotiated rates.

      My company negotiated hotel rates 1 year prior to our conference in Berlin(before the crisis hit in Europe). At the time we thought the rates were good. Closer to the event, economic crisis in full swing, our members began to book their rooms at our rate but others booked rooms at the same hotel without mentioning our room block and received half price room rates. How could this have been avoided? Members who didn’t book prior to arriving booked the same day as the conference and received a lower rate.

      I would appreciate any feedback
      thanks
      Beatriz

      [Reply]

    • Michael M McCurry CMP
      July 2nd, 2009 at 3:02 pm

      @Beatriz Garcia
      Hi Beatriz,

      Thanks for your question. This is a difficult economic situation and an awkward time for hotels, event planners and organizations. One solution to the problem you mentioned is adding what we refer to as a “rate protection clause” to your contract. Essentially this states the hotel can not offer a lower rate to other groups or individuals over your contracted dates unless they offer that rate to your attendees as well, regardless of distribution channels. (Internet, email blast, hotel booking sites like Expedia, etc.) If its discovered the hotel does introduce a lower rate then they must either provide it to your events attendees or take it off the market all together.

      Secondly you should have an “audit” clause in your hotel contract giving you the right to compare your event’s registration list against a complete hotel in house reservation listing. If any rooms are discovered to be booked outside your block then you will subsequently get credit for them.

      These two contract codicils will pave the way to protect your organization’s interests, but there is work that goes along with carrying them through, needless to say.

      If you would like to discuss this further please let me know as I would be more than happy to have a telephone conversation with you.

      Thanks for reaching out to me.. much appreciated!

      Regards,

      Mike McCurry

      [Reply]