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Add You - Tips for Easier Hotel Contract Review When Planning a Meeting
If you're starting or running a daycare center in the US, you'll be happy to know that there are grants available from various sources for daycare providers. However, most private and for-profit child day care business can only get grants from new business start-up programs and a few other programs operated by provincial and state governments, usually under the department of Children and family services. Most of the grants for daycare are only available to care providers with non-profit status.Grants for daycare - Private and For-profit Daycare BusinessesPrivate and for-profit daycare businesses may be able to get grants for daycare from the Child and Adult Care Food Program, local, state, or provincial programs being offered through licensing offices, Child Care Resource and Referral Agency and the Children's and Family Services Office.Your business may also want to look into special loan programs such as those administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Businesses may also be able to get some grants for daycare from organisations that finance business started by women, minorities and businesses located in certain regions. Other sources of financing include bank loans, venture capital, gifts and loans from family and friends and local small business associations.One of the best sources of information a
• Early departure charge. Specify the amount (it should be less than one night’s room rate) and that guests will be informed of this potential charge upon check-in.
• Master account. Typically, the credit application is due 90 days prior to arrival. Stipulate items that are to be included on the master account, as well as authorized signatories and payment terms.
Reports/Printouts to Request
• A per-night room pickup report.
• Individual cancellations and no-shows.
• Statistics for food and beverage revenue.
Function Space and Meeting Arrangements
• Agenda. Is it tentative or finalized? What are the due dates for the program? When will the hotel provide room names?
• Exact days, dates, setups, and functions.
• Specific room names or minimum square feet required; start/end times for 24-hour hold on space.
• Ancillary charges. Are there charges for meeting room rental and/or setup? Is there a fee for “extensive” meeting room setups and how is that defined? Is there a
All businesses are created first by ideas. Then once you're in business you need ideas for marketing, advertising, solving problems, product development etc. The difference between success or failure could be one just one idea. That's all! Below are three ways to generate profitable business ideas.1. Communicating regularly with other business people can generate many ideas. There are many resources online and offline to meet new business people lie; seminars, chat rooms, discussion boards, trade shows etc. Sharing your knowledge, asking questions, and taking in new information will stimulate your mind. Your brain will begin to put all this information together to create profitable business ideas.2. If you're not much of a communicator, try reading. Reading can also stimulate your mind. Read business books, magazines, e-books, web sites, journals, e-zines, newspapers etc. Your brain will generate profitable ideas by absorbing and rearranging this information on a regular basis.3. Don't have a lot of time to read? You could listen to business audio books, seminars and courses. Listen to them in the car, while your doing house work, working in the yard, or exercising. Also, tune in business related radio stations. This will help you save time and generate profitable business ideas at th
CONTRACT SECTIONS
General Contract Issues
• Date of contract initiation.
• Accurate and complete legal names of both parties, addresses, and contact information as well as the name of the meeting. Be sure the contracting party is not listed as the name of the meeting; they are often not the same.
• Actual dates of the meeting, not the dates of the room block.
• Statement of whether the contract is a first or second option. A first option should specify the date by which the contract must be signed and returned to the hotel, after which date the option will expire and the contract may have to be renegotiated. A second option should include the above as well as the date by which the hotel must reply to you after receiving the signed contract (typically three business days) and notify you of its decision.
Sleeping Room Block
• Table format showing the year, days of the week, and dates of the room block.
• Specific breakdown by type(s) of rooms/suites and number(s) per night.
• Beware of language that locks you into payment for the entire contracted block.
Room Rates
• Year quoted. If rates are quoted for any year other than the current year, that year should be specified.
• Future rates. If rates are not definite yet, indicate the formula to be used and when final rates will be established (usually 12 months out). Use at least two factors in the formula, such as percentage off rack rate, maximum percentage increase per year, or the Consumer Price Index, and state that final rates will be the lesser of the two formulas.
• Breakdown of rates by type of room/suite, single/double, deluxe, and government rate. State the percentage blocked in each rate category.
• Applicable taxes (sales, occupancy), service charges, and gratuities.
• Applicable charges for extra person in room.
• Currency. If the contract was initiated in another country, the rates are usually quoted in that country’s currency.
• Ensure that final rates are not subject to change.
Complimentary and Other Negotiated Concessions
• One complimentary room per 50 revenue-producing rooms actually utilized. Spell out how the comps are calculated (on a cumulative or per-night basis) and whether they can be credited to the master account.
• Additional concessions. Include specifics such as the duration of each concession, i.e., comp rooms are for five nights each.
• If concessions are based on 80 percent of the room pickup, specify what happens if the pickup is less than 80 percent. • State if a concession is complimentary.
Reservations
• Procedure. Is the group, hotel, or a third party handling housing? Will individuals call in, use reservation cards, be identified on a rooming list, or be serviced by a housing bureau? Will you use your own reservation form or the hotel’s?
• Cutoff date. Identify the exact cutoff date — usually 30 days prior to the major arrival day. Indicate whether reservations received after the cutoff date will be honored at the group rate or a rate at the hotel’s discretion.
• Confirmations. Specify if/when they are to be sent by the hotel.
• Check-in/check-out times.
• Dishonored reservations. Spell out what will happen if individuals with guaranteed reservations are turned away or “walked.” Consider reimbursement of replacement accommodations or transportation to and from the new hotel.
Payment
• Rooms. Will individuals or the organization be responsible for payment?
• Deposits. For the group’s master account, how much is due and when? For individuals, a credit card guarantee or one night’s deposit is usually required.
• Early departure charge. Specify the amount (it should be less than one night’s room rate) and that guests will be informed of this potential charge upon check-in.
• Master account. Typically, the credit application is due 90 days prior to arrival. Stipulate items that are to be included on the master account, as well as authorized signatories and payment terms.
Reports/Printouts to Request
• A per-night room pickup report.
• Individual cancellations and no-shows.
• Statistics for food and beverage revenue.
Function Space and Meeting Arrangements
• Agenda. Is it tentative or finalized? What are the due dates for the program? When will the hotel provide room names?
• Exact days, dates, setups, and functions.
• Specific room names or minimum square feet required; start/end times for 24-hour hold on space.
• Ancillary charges. Are there charges for meeting room rental and/or setup? Is there a fee for “extensive” meeting room setups and how is that defined? Is there a
Textile Portal is a marketplace for the common meeting point of Buyers and Suppliers of Textile products and services. It follows the same concept of the traditional market places which are set up for buyers and sellers even today. For e.g.: We visit various markets like vegetable market, fish market, cloth market. Almost always we can see that similar products are sold in such markets with a variety of options available to select from. Textile Portal is a virtual marketplace where traders, buyers and suppliers do their postings for the requirements. In fact traders play an active role in the negotiating of prices and making the business profitable for both buyers and suppliers.The task is a difficult one for traders since postings are for products spanning geographically across the globe. A supplier wants to sell 100% cotton from India. However there are more than one buyer for 100% cotton more from the Atlantic region. The trader would act prudently and select the best buyer who can also give good commission rates to the trader.Textile portals are coming up over the web. Since the products involved are in bulk quantities, these portals are not very popular like other portals like ebay.com or amazon.com. Not just popularity but reliability is an important factor determining the choice of textile portal. These portals are also co
Sleeping Room Block
• Table format showing the year, days of the week, and dates of the room block.
• Specific breakdown by type(s) of rooms/suites and number(s) per night.
• Beware of language that locks you into payment for the entire contracted block.
Room Rates
• Year quoted. If rates are quoted for any year other than the current year, that year should be specified.
• Future rates. If rates are not definite yet, indicate the formula to be used and when final rates will be established (usually 12 months out). Use at least two factors in the formula, such as percentage off rack rate, maximum percentage increase per year, or the Consumer Price Index, and state that final rates will be the lesser of the two formulas.
• Breakdown of rates by type of room/suite, single/double, deluxe, and government rate. State the percentage blocked in each rate category.
• Applicable taxes (sales, occupancy), service charges, and gratuities.
• Applicable charges for extra person in room.
• Currency. If the contract was initiated in another country, the rates are usually quoted in that country’s currency.
• Ensure that final rates are not subject to change.
Complimentary and Other Negotiated Concessions
• One complimentary room per 50 revenue-producing rooms actually utilized. Spell out how the comps are calculated (on a cumulative or per-night basis) and whether they can be credited to the master account.
• Additional concessions. Include specifics such as the duration of each concession, i.e., comp rooms are for five nights each.
• If concessions are based on 80 percent of the room pickup, specify what happens if the pickup is less than 80 percent. • State if a concession is complimentary.
Reservations
• Procedure. Is the group, hotel, or a third party handling housing? Will individuals call in, use reservation cards, be identified on a rooming list, or be serviced by a housing bureau? Will you use your own reservation form or the hotel’s?
• Cutoff date. Identify the exact cutoff date — usually 30 days prior to the major arrival day. Indicate whether reservations received after the cutoff date will be honored at the group rate or a rate at the hotel’s discretion.
• Confirmations. Specify if/when they are to be sent by the hotel.
• Check-in/check-out times.
• Dishonored reservations. Spell out what will happen if individuals with guaranteed reservations are turned away or “walked.” Consider reimbursement of replacement accommodations or transportation to and from the new hotel.
Payment
• Rooms. Will individuals or the organization be responsible for payment?
• Deposits. For the group’s master account, how much is due and when? For individuals, a credit card guarantee or one night’s deposit is usually required.
• Early departure charge. Specify the amount (it should be less than one night’s room rate) and that guests will be informed of this potential charge upon check-in.
• Master account. Typically, the credit application is due 90 days prior to arrival. Stipulate items that are to be included on the master account, as well as authorized signatories and payment terms.
Reports/Printouts to Request
• A per-night room pickup report.
• Individual cancellations and no-shows.
• Statistics for food and beverage revenue.
Function Space and Meeting Arrangements
• Agenda. Is it tentative or finalized? What are the due dates for the program? When will the hotel provide room names?
• Exact days, dates, setups, and functions.
• Specific room names or minimum square feet required; start/end times for 24-hour hold on space.
• Ancillary charges. Are there charges for meeting room rental and/or setup? Is there a fee for “extensive” meeting room setups and how is that defined? Is there a
Increasing brand awareness through the use of print advertising, TV and radio advertising, the internet and direct mail campaigns are generally the most well known methods of building up your business profile in today’s dynamic market, another element in a successful brand strategy is vehicle and signage advertising which is one of the most important cost-effective advertising tools available to small businesses today.Today's business world is an increasingly competitive place to be and your company identity is an essential component of your image. It is the publics’ first perception of you and your first opportunity to make a positive impression on potential customers. A well designed signage program can instantly and effectively communicate the style, professionalism and overall presence of your business, it conveys to people who you are, where you are and what you do.Vehicle signage advertising is one of the most cost-effective advertising tools available to maximize the potential of your business. With distinctive and effective design, your shop vehicle becomes a moving billboard and communicates with your customers in a way that no other advertising medium can. It sends the message to potential customers that your company is expert and professional and is also established and reputable. Vehicle advertising is long lasting an
• Applicable taxes (sales, occupancy), service charges, and gratuities.
• Applicable charges for extra person in room.
• Currency. If the contract was initiated in another country, the rates are usually quoted in that country’s currency.
• Ensure that final rates are not subject to change.
Complimentary and Other Negotiated Concessions
• One complimentary room per 50 revenue-producing rooms actually utilized. Spell out how the comps are calculated (on a cumulative or per-night basis) and whether they can be credited to the master account.
• Additional concessions. Include specifics such as the duration of each concession, i.e., comp rooms are for five nights each.
• If concessions are based on 80 percent of the room pickup, specify what happens if the pickup is less than 80 percent. • State if a concession is complimentary.
Reservations
• Procedure. Is the group, hotel, or a third party handling housing? Will individuals call in, use reservation cards, be identified on a rooming list, or be serviced by a housing bureau? Will you use your own reservation form or the hotel’s?
• Cutoff date. Identify the exact cutoff date — usually 30 days prior to the major arrival day. Indicate whether reservations received after the cutoff date will be honored at the group rate or a rate at the hotel’s discretion.
• Confirmations. Specify if/when they are to be sent by the hotel.
• Check-in/check-out times.
• Dishonored reservations. Spell out what will happen if individuals with guaranteed reservations are turned away or “walked.” Consider reimbursement of replacement accommodations or transportation to and from the new hotel.
Payment
• Rooms. Will individuals or the organization be responsible for payment?
• Deposits. For the group’s master account, how much is due and when? For individuals, a credit card guarantee or one night’s deposit is usually required.
• Early departure charge. Specify the amount (it should be less than one night’s room rate) and that guests will be informed of this potential charge upon check-in.
• Master account. Typically, the credit application is due 90 days prior to arrival. Stipulate items that are to be included on the master account, as well as authorized signatories and payment terms.
Reports/Printouts to Request
• A per-night room pickup report.
• Individual cancellations and no-shows.
• Statistics for food and beverage revenue.
Function Space and Meeting Arrangements
• Agenda. Is it tentative or finalized? What are the due dates for the program? When will the hotel provide room names?
• Exact days, dates, setups, and functions.
• Specific room names or minimum square feet required; start/end times for 24-hour hold on space.
• Ancillary charges. Are there charges for meeting room rental and/or setup? Is there a fee for “extensive” meeting room setups and how is that defined? Is there a
Successful Realtors know the importance of branding their identities into the consciousness of the communities in which they live, like the big boys; Pepsi, McDonald's, Burger King, and other companies we know and have come to trust.Why is branding important? Think about it! When you want a soda do you buy an unknown off-brand just because it's cheap?Or, do you reach for a Coke? I'm a Pepsi guy myself, but you get my drift!And why do you do that? Because there's comfort in familiarity and you know what you're getting when you buy it.We spend mega bucks on name brand products just because we've been inundated with their marketing campaign messages.Don't believe me? Try this! Quick, who said "Have It Your Way"; "Soup and Sandwich, Soup and Sandwich"; "Oh, I wish I was an ____ ____ ____, that is what I truly want to Be…". Point made!People support businesses and products that they are comfortably familiar with, even when the familiarity is solely based on marketing campaigns, while avoiding the unknowns.The same is true for homeowners wanting to list properties for sale with real estate agents. Unless there's a compelling reason to do so they're not going to list their property with a rookie agent, or worst yet somebody who's been in the business for years, b
• Cutoff date. Identify the exact cutoff date — usually 30 days prior to the major arrival day. Indicate whether reservations received after the cutoff date will be honored at the group rate or a rate at the hotel’s discretion.
• Confirmations. Specify if/when they are to be sent by the hotel.
• Check-in/check-out times.
• Dishonored reservations. Spell out what will happen if individuals with guaranteed reservations are turned away or “walked.” Consider reimbursement of replacement accommodations or transportation to and from the new hotel.
Payment
• Rooms. Will individuals or the organization be responsible for payment?
• Deposits. For the group’s master account, how much is due and when? For individuals, a credit card guarantee or one night’s deposit is usually required.
• Early departure charge. Specify the amount (it should be less than one night’s room rate) and that guests will be informed of this potential charge upon check-in.
• Master account. Typically, the credit application is due 90 days prior to arrival. Stipulate items that are to be included on the master account, as well as authorized signatories and payment terms.
Reports/Printouts to Request
• A per-night room pickup report.
• Individual cancellations and no-shows.
• Statistics for food and beverage revenue.
Function Space and Meeting Arrangements
• Agenda. Is it tentative or finalized? What are the due dates for the program? When will the hotel provide room names?
• Exact days, dates, setups, and functions.
• Specific room names or minimum square feet required; start/end times for 24-hour hold on space.
• Ancillary charges. Are there charges for meeting room rental and/or setup? Is there a fee for “extensive” meeting room setups and how is that defined? Is there a
For centuries and most of the decades in the 20th century (i.e when computer was invented) access and communication was the tool of rich and ultra rich people, prohibitively expansive to ‘not so rich’ and ‘not at all rich’ people. All marketing research and development was focused on the 20% of the market based on the management principle 80:20, ignoring the vast 4 billion people who are at the bottom of the pyramid( read Fortune at the Bottom of Pyramid by C.K. Prahalad, Wharton Publishing).In 1990s, Internet came along and change the paradigm of whole global market. Because here we have a great tool “Internet” a very efficient, very potent to penetrate the earlier thought impregnable market sec. For most if the time it is the exposure to the outer world and information is necessary to make any decision and growth of any section of society or part of world. Internet is playing that role very efficiently.Internet is a Mass product. Here power lies in the hand of individuals, rich or not so rich(This terminology is taken from Fortune at the Bottom of Pyramid by C.K. Prahalad, Wharton Publishing). General theory of market states (i) Top end market is value driven. (ii) Bottom end market is volume driven.Through these two anomaly, we can clearly recognize that Internet companies are focusing on the second approach and that
• Early departure charge. Specify the amount (it should be less than one night’s room rate) and that guests will be informed of this potential charge upon check-in.
• Master account. Typically, the credit application is due 90 days prior to arrival. Stipulate items that are to be included on the master account, as well as authorized signatories and payment terms.
Reports/Printouts to Request
• A per-night room pickup report.
• Individual cancellations and no-shows.
• Statistics for food and beverage revenue.
Function Space and Meeting Arrangements
• Agenda. Is it tentative or finalized? What are the due dates for the program? When will the hotel provide room names?
• Exact days, dates, setups, and functions.
• Specific room names or minimum square feet required; start/end times for 24-hour hold on space.
• Ancillary charges. Are there charges for meeting room rental and/or setup? Is there a fee for “extensive” meeting room setups and how is that defined? Is there a charge for using outside suppliers or contractors? If there is no charge for any of these services, be sure to state that.
• Release of space. What are the terms?
• Security guards. Hotel should “request,” not “require,” security guards.
• No changes to function space assignments or requirements should be allowed without written group consent.
Food and Beverage
• Menu prices. Firm prices should be established no later than six months out.
• Guarantees. Most guarantees should be given 48 or 72 hours prior to the function. Specify how weekends affect this deadline.
• Taxes and gratuities. State whether the service charge is taxable.
• Hotel’s alcohol service policy, adherence to laws, and intoxication policy.
• Food and beverage cancellation or reduction/mitigation clause.
Exhibit Space
• Exact dates. Include beginning and ending times, setup and move-in, tear-down, and move-out.
• Costs. What is the rental fee? Does it include daily maintenance and vacuuming of the aisles? Be sure the charges are by net, not gross, square feet.
• Booths. List type, size, and number.
• Box delivery. What are the charges? When shipping boxes to the hotel prior to the meeting, where and by when should they be shipped?
• Security guards. Are they required?
• Release of space. What are the terms?
• Exhibitor responsibility clause. Make sure it absolves both the hotel and your organization of liability.
Room Block Control and Pickup
• Provisions for attrition and mitigation. (See “Analyzing Attrition Clauses” and “Making Sense of Mitigation” on pages 37 and 40, respectively.)
• Meeting room rental/facilities service fees. Does the rental fee apply per day for a certain number of days (if so, it should apply only to the major days) or is it all-inclusive? The rental scale should be based on sleeping room revenue.
• Include room block review dates and allowed adjustment/attrition.
• If there are no room block performance charges, that should be stated.
• Any nonrefundable individual cancellation or early departure fees that are collected should be applied to any group performance or cancellation charges due.
• Do not allow more than one room block performance charge.
Rights of Termination for Cause
• Force majeure for termination in the event of an emergency over which neither party has control (also known as an “impossibility”) should be mutual and state that termination will be without a cancellation charge.
• Termination should be allowed for construction, change in management company or ownership, bankruptcy, conflicting booking/competitor, and unavailability of convention center or other facility.
• “Without liability” is often missing in these clauses.
Cancellation
• By the group. There should be a sliding scale of charges as well as mitigation.
• By the hotel. The group should be made whole for its losses.
• The same clause should not include both the hotel and the group; issues affecting the group and the hotel are too different to have the same charges owed.
• Cancellation clause. Be sure to include one for your group or total revenue could be owed.
• Watch out for cancellation clauses that seek to recoup all revenue that the hotel would have lost; damages owed should be in terms of lost room revenue only.
Americans with Disabilities Act
• Hotel should warrant its compliance.
• Specify the group’s obligations.
• State mutual cooperation in identifying needs.
• Each party should indemnify the other for violations by the indemnifying party.
• Beware of vague language and one-sided obligation for the group.
Dispute Resolution
• What method will be used — arbitration, litigation, or other?
• Which side pays attorney fees?
• In the event the hotel sues the group for collection of funds the group owes, and the hotel wants to be reimbursed for its attorney fees, the hotel should be reimbursed only for attorney fees the hotel incurred to collect charges that the group does not dispute that it owes.<
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