Room blocks can make or break your event budget—and in 2026, negotiation is less about “getting a rate” and more about structuring a block that protects both the planner and the hotel. In this roundtable, we’ll cover what’s most important right now: how hotels are evaluating demand and risk, what terms are truly negotiable, and how to build a room block strategy that supports attendance while avoiding painful attrition. We’ll discuss the real-world details planners want clarity on: cut-off dates, pickup patterns, comp rooms/concessions, upgrades/VIP policies, resell language, cancellation clauses, and how to use historical data to strengthen your position. We’ll also share smart ways to market your block so it performs—and what to do when pickup is behind.
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