Here are some really great tips to ensure an easy and efficient check-in for your sports team's upcoming trip. Keep your focus on your away game or tournament by avoiding unnecessary group travel hassles for your team:
1 week prior to the cut off date to ensure a Great Team Trip:
Properties will always give you a cut off date by which your team has to make reservations in order to get the special group rate. Contact the property prior to this date and request a rooming list. Either have a team meeting to discuss this, or email this to the team. By double checking this list you ensure that everyone has their reservations, the reservations made are accurate, and this enables you to make any additional changes without fear of penalty from the property. This also reduces the chance of hotels “not having you reservation” because they spelled your name Forbes instead of Vorbes!
What you can do the Day prior to check in to ensure a seamless check-in
Contact the hotel and tell them what time your group will be checking in. Advise them to turn off all incidentals and to Pre Key each room. I don’t know if you have ever waited at a front desk trying to check in a whole team? It can take a LONG TIME if the property is not prepared for your group! Pre Keying rooms speeds up checkin because it reduces the amount of time it takes to check in each individual room. By having the incidentals turned off prior to arrival you will avoid all those pesky movies kids tend to rent while your backs are turned!
What you can do during your stay to make things flow easier
Nothing is worse than having a strict team schedule of events and being late because breakfast at the hotel took too long! To avoid this call down to the restaurant when you arrive to the hotel and let them know what time you will be eating your meals. Many hotels will put together limited menus for your group with meals they can prepare rapidly. This way you can pre order your meals, and not miss any important games. It is also a good idea to call housekeeping and let them know your schedule so that they can make sure to clean your rooms while you are out.
Find the perfect hotel for your team now.
Warm Regards,
Olivia J. Thorpe, Platinum Desk Agent
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