How do room blocks work in Belize?
Room blocks in Belize work a little differently than they do in other destinations. In locations with more tourism infrastructure and larger resorts, like Mexico and Jamaica, we have the leverage to negotiate prices below the “rack rate,” which is the officially published price for a room. In Belize, the properties are just too small and don’t have the margin to lower rates for group bookings.
What do you need to do to hold a room block in Belize?
There are also differences in how properties hold a room block for couples. Properties in more developed destinations like Mexico and Jamaica, will often offer a courtesy room block or a room block for a refundable fee. Each property in Belize has their own process, but often the couple is asked to pay a non-refundable deposit that’s equivalent to 2 nights stay per room. They can then apply this money towards their wedding. This is because the properties are too small to take on the risk of holding rooms that may not get booked.
How can you find pricing for room blocks in Belize?
Finding accurate pricing for room blocks can be a bit difficult online. Properties have all gotten savvy to search engine algorithms. They draw people in by posting the lowest rates, but often the low price they advertise is for a limited inventory of entry level rooms (sometimes just 1 or 2 rooms). This can make it difficult to research pricing for group bookings online. It seems like there are lots of rooms available for very low rates, but in reality all the rates are much higher. It’s a frustration we run into a lot.
How many rooms can you put in a room block in Belize
If you are looking for a large room block you also need to know that in Belize, the vast majority of properties have 20 rooms or less, there are only a couple dozen properties that have 30+ rooms in the whole country. Most properties in Belize can’t accommodate more than 40 guests at once. In our experience, there are lots of properties in Belize that are great for individual travel, but they just don’t have the staffing or capability to pull off weddings to a standard that American couple’s expect.
That’s why we’re here! We have experience navigating all the intricacies of room blocks in Belize. We will be with you every step of the way to make your dream destination wedding a reality!
Comments