Guests not using room blocks?

Oh man ..... following this post. Sorry I don't have any answers. I JUST got the hotel block settled (2023 wedding) and thought people will definitely use it as the rate is over $100 a night cheaper than other hotels. AND it is a 5 star rating on TripAdvisor . Now this has me concerned
Best of luck and happy wedding day!

I didn't do a hotel block because I didn't know what my guests were doing and what they would like to spend on a hotel. I sent a list of the hotels that was close to my venue so that they could call and find out how much the rooms were. Maybe you could could talk to the hotels about not having blocked rooms and send out a list of the hotels (if possible) and let your guest choose the hotel that is for them. You can also reach out to your guest and see if they have looked at the list that you sent and confirm that they booked their room. The task would be getting in touch with your out of town guests to get an update. I hope that this is helpful. Best of luck and have a wonderful wedding.

The hotels can send you a list of how many of your guests reserved. You can also drop off the welcome bags for your guests as well the day before so it can be handed to them at check in. Just make sure you inform the hotel coordinator. This way it’ll save you time and stressed trying to figure out who gets in when.

You can still do the shuttle just make sure you communicate to everyone where the shuttle will be picking up and dropping off (on your website and by email/text.) Maybe their hotels are within walking distance to the shuttle location? They could also be at Airbnb's in the area. I would just forego the welcome bags. I know it's cute thing to do but not logical if everyone is spread out. And it sounds like you don't want to chase them all down.
I had a courtesy block at a hotel also but nobody booked it. There are too many great Airbnb's in this area for better prices.

I work for a hotel, as long as there are rooms available for those dates, even after the block has expired, they should still give them the group rate. At least all the hotels I have ever worked at have. The hotel can give you a list of who is in your block as the dates get closer.

Call each hotel and see how many guests booked under your room block. They can easily pull a list. Depending on the price of the shuttle it may not be cost efficient to have it stop to pick up one or two people. If you decide to cancel it though make sure to let your guests know as they may be planning to use it since it was offered. And if I were you I’d give any bags to the front desk to hand out at when guests check in. The hotel manager you dealt with for the block should be able to make sure they are given out. Good luck!

A lot of people don't know about/ go onto wedding websites. I have never once went on someone's wedding website, I just book a hotel near where I need to be. I would just continue on with the shuttle as originally planned and skip the welcome bags.

Thanks everyone, Just for clarification- we do have the list from the hotels of who booked with the room blocks. The issue is that one hotel has a single booking, the other is just a handful (myself and parents included in that). We’re in a pretty suburban area so there is limited air bnbs, which is why I am assuming that most guests will still be at one of these hotels…but now the hotels won’t know who is there for the wedding.

View Quoted Comment

Ah, I see what your concerns are.

Ultimately, I think your heart was in the right place and that you were trying to do a fun thing for your guests with the welcome bags, but I would just do the welcome bags for the guests you know for sure booked with your blocks. You put an accommodations card in your invitation and it's on your website, so at this point you've done all you can do to encourage guests to use your block.

One thing to consider about why they may not be using your block: maybe they have a loyalty membership with a different branch of hotels and can earn more points even though the rooms would be more expensive, or maybe they're cashing in a free night to come.

In the end, your guests will be there if they RSVP'd and you won't remember who stayed in your hotel block and who didn't.

I love the idea of a welcome bag and I would just do it for the ones who used your rate. It's kinda like you saying thank you for utilizing the resources I went out of my way to make available for you. if you know the rest are going to go to the hotels you referred then maybe leave some at the front desk to give to your guest. I know my family was afraid to use the blocked-off rooms because they thought they had to pay right then but once we informed them that they didn't have to pay right then they gladly booked. we are doing a meet and greet the night before at the hotel we had rooms blocked- off. they have a fire pit and beautiful scenery so we are hoping they will just come to stop by even if they find a cheaper room.