HOTEL CALIFORNIA

Can anybody shed some light on the subject of having to stay at designated hotels at tournaments. I find it annoying that often you can get much better prices right in the same area.Who makes the call on where you can stay?

Re: HOTEL CALIFORNIA

Can anybody shed some light on the subject of having to stay at designated hotels at tournaments. I find it annoying that often you can get much better prices right in the same area.Who makes the call on where you can stay?

Popular tournaments coordinate accommodations with travel agents to secure rooms for out of town teams. Although the tournament sponsor gets a "kick back" and makes it mandatory as part of being accepted, there is a benefit in that the hotels will guarantee blocks of rooms. I've found the difference to be $10-$15 a night more and without the hassle of trying to find a place to keep the teams together.

Re: HOTEL CALIFORNIA

Basically three options depending on the tournament:

1.) On your own, the teams are left to their own devices to find accomodations. Few, if any, popular "regional" tournaments fall into this catagory, although many local tournaments still afford the teams plenty of lee-way in booking.

2.) From a list, Teams are given a list of participating hotels and based on availability they get to book with who they choose. Usually there is also a specific travel agncy that you are required to use for your booking. The rates are set via interaction with the travel agent. This is the most frequent option for regional and sub-regional type events. I would tend to agree that the cost is typically slightly higher than rack rate, although there are plenty of times that the stay is at a bargain rate. Sometimes you can pay a fee and opt out of the tournament selected sites/agent and revert back to #1. Just because a facility is on the list doesn't mean that it will be of livable quality, safe, clean or worth the price. Be especially concerned about the location of your motel if the tourney is in an unfamiliar urban setting.

3.) No choice, in some major tournaments you are simply given hotel space and expected to stay there at the chosen cost. Often that space is of an insufficiant quantity to house all of your team, families and coaches. This leaves some to be back to #1.

Re: HOTEL CALIFORNIA

Typical rip off situation so tournaments hosts and clubs can make even more money of the kids/parent with kickbacks

Re: HOTEL CALIFORNIA

At the 2007 Seaside Classic in RI there were actually "hotel police" asking the parents what hotels they were staying at. Don't know what they would have done to the team if they didn't stay at one of their "approved vendors", but from what I heard is that they would disqualify the team. Sounds pretty absurd!!!!!! Especially when you are playing on those tiny things they called fields, refs who were younger then the players, and goals that look like they could blow away in the wind.

Re: HOTEL CALIFORNIA

At the 2007 Seaside Classic in RI there were actually "hotel police" asking the parents what hotels they were staying at. Don't know what they would have done to the team if they didn't stay at one of their "approved vendors", but from what I heard is that they would disqualify the team. Sounds pretty absurd!!!!!! Especially when you are playing on those tiny things they called fields, refs who were younger then the players, and goals that look like they could blow away in the wind.

If I'm spending MY money, I'll decide what's "approved", thank you very much.

Re: HOTEL CALIFORNIA

At the 2007 Seaside Classic in RI there were actually "hotel police" asking the parents what hotels they were staying at. Don't know what they would have done to the team if they didn't stay at one of their "approved vendors", but from what I heard is that they would disqualify the team. Sounds pretty absurd!!!!!! Especially when you are playing on those tiny things they called fields, refs who were younger then the players, and goals that look like they could blow away in the wind.

If I'm spending MY money, I'll decide what's "approved", thank you very much.

DITTO!!

Re: HOTEL CALIFORNIA

Thanks folks, some very interesting feedback. It seems that clubs are petty limited in what if any flexability they have on this issue. Has anybody legaly challenged this practice? Lets here from our own Judge Judys out there! Or is it as simple as tournament organizers saying "These are our stipulations if you dont want to follow them then dont compete in our Tournament"

Re: HOTEL CALIFORNIA

i don't see how you could legally challenge it. if a tournament puts it in their rules that you have to use a service, then you have to use the service! You can just play in another tournament.

the other thing to consider is that booking large blocks of rooms are big risks for a tournament that is usually run by a non-profit. the agencies have good relationships with hotels and usually book at other times as well. Having the agency deal with it takes a lot of the risk away for the tournament. It's also a convenience for the tournament, because the tournament does not have to hire someone from within to figure it all out.

It would be way worse if there was no service, and teams who waited had no where to stay. The agencies relationships usually allow them to hold large numbers of rooms based on reputation, where if the tournament had to do it themselves they wouldn't be given the same leeway.

it's not as cut and dry as all of this, and there does end up being some abuses at some tournaments, but overall it is a necessary relationship for tournaments that attract a large number of teams.

Re: HOTEL CALIFORNIA

i don't see how you could legally challenge it. if a tournament puts it in their rules that you have to use a service, then you have to use the service! You can just play in another tournament.

the other thing to consider is that booking large blocks of rooms are big risks for a tournament that is usually run by a non-profit. the agencies have good relationships with hotels and usually book at other times as well. Having the agency deal with it takes a lot of the risk away for the tournament. It's also a convenience for the tournament, because the tournament does not have to hire someone from within to figure it all out.

It would be way worse if there was no service, and teams who waited had no where to stay. The agencies relationships usually allow them to hold large numbers of rooms based on reputation, where if the tournament had to do it themselves they wouldn't be given the same leeway.

it's not as cut and dry as all of this, and there does end up being some abuses at some tournaments, but overall it is a necessary relationship for tournaments that attract a large number of teams.

Example: Looked into attending a tournament at Seacoast last year. The website said that they had 'negotiated favorable rates' with their "preferred hotels." Nothing saying you HAD to stay there but when I called the hotels listed, the cheapest favorable rate was $250/night.

Most club teams have a parent manager that can work out hotels, reserving a block or whatever....the host club doesnt have to do it so i dont agree with the last point above.