What’s a Hotel Broker?
My life made more sense to my mom back when I was carrying luggage and welcoming guests at the hotel front desk. In the decades since, it feels like my career has become less and less clear to her. And now that I work as a Hotel Broker, she definitely doesn’t understand what I do. Her best guess is that I might, sometimes, sell hotels?
I do not (fun idea though).
So to help her, you, and any prospective clients out there understand the job of a Hotel Broker (and why every organization looking for the best possible group bookings on any continent work with one), I’m going to take a deeper dive into what I do and how I do it.
Hotel Broker-Ing
Let’s set the stage. A multinational company or institution is holding a conference, retreat, or important meeting in a major centre. It just so happens that Taylor Swift is in town and it’s also peak cruise ship season. Available lodgings are at a premium. This event will be attended by other significant players in the company’s business sector (finance, energy, pharmaceutical research, etc.). This means they’re going to need hotel rooms—a lot of them. These are called Group Bookings—blocks of 10 or more rooms that are set aside for the attendees of a specific event.
At this point, the company has two options: they can either start googling prices and availability, or they can reach out to me. If they exercise the second option and choose to work with me, they’ve just saved themselves a lot of time, money, liability and headache. Here’s how.
- They send me the details of what they need, I create a custom RFP (Request for Proposal) based on that information and, using proprietary software, I can source one hotel or 50 in the same time it takes most to complete the initial RFP (and we get it the RFP to the right person, right away).
- I vet the proposals that come in, generate a summary report of the best options and present it to the client.
- Once the client chooses their favorites, I book the site tours so the client can get an on-the-ground look at potential hotels.
- Once they’ve chosen their preferred hotel, I negotiate a contract with said hotel, help the client understand the risks and opportunities of the contract, renegotiate where needed, and do it all to protect the client’s interests.
- Once the contract is agreed upon and signed, the chosen hotel pays my brokerage fee (which means the client pays nothing), and a wonderful event is had by all.
That’s the job. And I’m really good at it.
Decades of experience in hotels and hospitality, the international relationships I’ve cultivated over that time, and the knowledge I’ve gained all add up to the ability to help organizations around the world find group bookings they simply could not find on their own.
Did that clear things up?
Looking at it laid out in order, it feels a bit like I’m a buyer’s real estate agent, but instead of a new home, I provide international hotel group bookings. I’m a bridge between organizations and the rooms they need.
What I love most about this job is that every booking comes with its own set of unique circumstances and needs. It’s a bespoke process. No two contracts are alike, and group bookings need to be treated that way to take full advantage of all the known and unknown opportunities hotels have to offer.
It’s a lot of fun for me, and a lot of joy for my clients.
So there you have it, mom. I’m a hotel group booking finder and facilitator for global organizations. Hope this article clears things up a bit.
Need help with your next group booking? Reach out! I’d love to work with you.