by Biscayne John » Fri Nov 28, 2014 12:59 am
Bill,
Thanks a lot for putting this togehter.
Just a suggestion, I have run few similar events for the Vintage Chevrolet Club all around the country, and every hotel was pretty much the same to deal with. When you talk to the hotels DO NOT TELL THEM YOU ARE A CAR CLUB!!!! For a few reasons but most important they really don't understand what that is. So they have a tendency then to view it as a corporate event, and they figure it is company on a "budget" or dime you might not get a good room rate. Second 99% of the time they will want some sort of certificate of insurance (proof) in this case it will be a problem. Third there is a very good chance will want a credit card to block rooms........... UNLESS you tell the hotels you are having some sort of "family" or "class" reunion and you need X number of rooms under a certain name, and EVERYONE WILL BE BOOKING A ROOM ON THEIR OWN. Then you also need to give them a room release date, in this case you can turn them loose at 8 weeks out maybe more, the earlier the release date the better the price. Remember you can always take more rooms but they dont like it block more then you need. Your going to have to sign some sort of boiler plate contract, and there is no liability on your end.
The lodging seems like can be the easy part, but it can be the biggest problem. You can't believe some of the stuff that is going on that fills up hotels, beyond any imagination. If people can't get a room close by they are not going to attend. Your going to need rooms for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I could be wrong but I don't think you will have too many people staying on Saturday to go to a brunch at a Waffle House on Sunday Morning. Most guys that are over 200 miles out are going to want to get few hours down the road. If there is no "banquet" on Saturday night, my car is in the box at 3:30 and I'm on the road.
Trailer parking can be a problem, but there are some easy solutions for that also.
We have to talk about the wheels, so feel free to call me over the weekend, I might be able to help you out with this if you want.
(Sorry about the spelling guys, my fingers are not working all that well yet after the surgery, sort of like the fireing order is screwed up)
John Mahoney
Long Island NY/Ocala FL
AACA
VCCA
CVOA
BCA
The Fleet
1954 Chevrolet BelAir sPort Coupe
1960 Chevrolet Impala 2 door Sport Coupe 348/340HP (AACA Grand National Winner)
1962 Chevrolet Impala 2 door Sport Coupe 409/409HP(the last one to do)
1962 Chevrolet Biscayne 2 door Sedan 327 Auto (AACA Grand National Winner)
1977 Monza Mirage 4 speed
1988 Celebrity Wagon (was my mother in laws since new 42K miles)
2011 28' Bendron Titan Enclosed Trailer; what they travel in when we go
2018 GMC 2500 Sierra Diesel Crew Cab; how we get them there without sweating
2015 Cadillac CTS