CHICAGO - Due to a contractual obligation, the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago has agreed to lower the per-night rate for all rooms in the block reserved for Grabby Awards Show attendees.
"On Saturday I received an e-blast from the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago announcing 50 percent off all rates for specific dates," said David Arias, owner of Grand Luxe Travel, which is serving as the official travel agency for the show. "Our dates over Memorial Day were included in the offer.
"[Our contract with the hotel] stipulates that any rate offered lower than our negotiated rate must be applied to everyone who books with the group," he added. "The starting rate went from $99 a night to $85. Other rates dropped similarly."
Prior to the rate reduction, the block was selling fast, Arias said. He noted that since the rate reduction, the available inventory is fewer than 25 rooms a night.
Arias said he is unsure whether additional rooms will be added to the block at the current rate, should the 25 rooms sell out.
"At the Westin for the GAYVN [Awards], we were able to add more than 375 rooms to that block at the group rate," he said. "Hopefully the Hard Rock will let us add more.
"Right now we have over 130 rooms booked in our block. At this rate we will be sold out before the booking cutoff date."
The Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is located just off Wacker Drive at North Michigan Avenue. It is a short cab ride to the Park West Theatre, home of the Grabby Awards.
For more information or to book rooms at the special Grabby Awards rate, visit AwardShowHotel.com.
