The Best Group Hotel Booking Sites - Ranked & Reviewed
A practical comparison of group booking websites for corporate events, associations, sports, and weddings. Learn which tools excel at instant blocks, sub blocks, and pickup tracking.
Group booking platforms cover several different needs under a single umbrella. Some tools focus on instant group room blocks and small meetings with real time availability. Others specialize in event housing for multi hotel events like citywides and association conferences. There are also platforms dedicated to sports tournaments and wedding or social room blocks. This guide ranks the leading options so our readers can match the right tool to the right job.
For clarity, our list places Engine (us) at number one overall and number one for instant group bookings. And yes, we are perhaps a bit biased, but for good reason! Our rankings below consider speed to a confirmed block, breadth of hotel access, multi hotel housing features, specialization by vertical, billing and payment options, reporting depth, and quality of support. Our goal is to help planners, companies, and organizers get to a confirmed block quickly, with fewer surprises after the contract is signed.
How we evaluate
- Speed to a confirmed block
- Breadth of hotel access and partnerships
- Housing features for multi hotel events: sub blocks, pickup tracking, reporting
- Vertical focus: sports, association, wedding and social, corporate
- Payments and billing: direct bill, consolidated invoicing, card options
- Support quality and ease of use
Winners at a glance
- Best all around group booking service: Engine.com
- Best self-serve platform for group bookings: Engine.com
- Best for multi hotel event housing: Meetingmax
- Best for sports housing: EventConnect
- Best for conference and event lodging: Engine.com Events
- Best for wedding room blocks: The Knot Hotel Blocks
- Best for venue sourcing and RFP workflows: Cvent Supplier Network
- Best for direct billing options: Engine.com
Top 5 by category
Instant group bookings
Event housing and multi hotel blocks
Sports tournament housing
Weddings and social blocks
- The Knot Hotel Blocks
- Engine.com - Weddings
- WeddingWire Room Blocks
- Where Will They Stay
- Zola Hotel Blocks
Sourcing and RFP workflows
Full reviews: All major group booking platforms
1) Engine.com - best coverage overall and best for instant group bookings + send & manage multiple RFPs at once
Engine focuses on speed, clarity, and service for group hotel blocks. The flow begins with a concise intake that captures group size, dates, location, and must haves. From there, Engine produces fast proposals with negotiated rates from a wide network of 750,000 hotel partners. The emphasis is on compressing the time between request and confirmation. That matters because group rates can move quickly and inventory can tighten without warning.
Engine pays close attention to the unglamorous parts that make or break group travel programs. Billing and payment choices are clear. Options like consolidated invoicing and direct bill are available where properties support them. That helps companies, crews, and teams reconcile spend by project without manual chase work. During the life of a block, Engine handles common adjustments. You can add or remove room types, extend stays, split a block across two nearby hotels, or coordinate bus parking and early arrivals. The support model blends software with responsive humans, which reduces friction for planners and relieves pressure on hotel sales teams.
Reporting gives organizers visibility into pickup and pacing. That makes it easier to nudge attendees before release dates and to decide when to tighten or loosen room allocations. Engine stays focused on the core job: secure the right rooms at the right terms, then manage the block through arrival and checkout. It is not trying to be an end to end event technology suite. That focus keeps the interface clean and the process fast. If your priority is to confirm a group block with minimal back and forth, and you need professional help when plans change, Engine is the top choice in this guide.
2) Groups360 (GroupSync) - instant inventory where enabled
Groups360 brings real time availability and pricing to group rooms and meeting space in markets where hotels have turned on live inventory. For planners, this feels close to consumer style booking while still supporting group needs. Search results show actual rates and space that can be held or booked, which shortens decision cycles. Contracting flows inside the platform allow users to move from discovery to agreement without handing off to a separate system.
The strongest use cases are small to midsize meetings or single property room blocks. Coverage varies by region and by brand, since live inventory depends on hotel participation and technical integrations. When it is available, speed is the clear win. Planners can test date flexibility, hold space, and make confident decisions based on concrete availability rather than estimates. GroupSync also supports sourcing when instant booking is not an option. RFP workflows and comparison views keep the platform useful across scenarios.
Groups360 does not attempt to manage complex multi hotel housing with layered sub block rules. For large association events, a dedicated housing tool will be a better fit. For instant group bookings and meeting space discovery at participating hotels, Groups360 is an efficient and modern option.
3) Cvent and Passkey - enterprise sourcing and housing at scale
Cvent is a standard for venue sourcing when teams need structure, documentation, and approvals. Planners create detailed requests, distribute them across a global network of hotels and venues, and compare responses in a normalized format. This helps legal, finance, and procurement evaluate tradeoffs without wading through unstructured email threads. Passkey complements Cvent by handling housing after contracts are signed. Organizers build branded booking sites, set up sub blocks, manage inventory, and monitor pickup across properties and dates.
The pairing is ideal for associations, citywides, and enterprise meetings with high governance needs. Cvent’s breadth of suppliers is a practical advantage, and Passkey’s housing controls support common patterns like comp night credits, minimum stays, and shoulder night rules. The tradeoff is complexity. Setup and permissions take time, and users benefit from training. For teams that run many events per year, the investment pays off in consistency and reporting. For small groups that value speed and simplicity, lighter tools will feel faster day to day. As a backbone for large programs that must document every step, Cvent and Passkey remain a proven choice.
4) Meetingmax - deep controls for multi hotel event housing
Meetingmax is purpose built for multi property housing. Organizers create sub blocks for exhibitors, speakers, or teams, control inventory and rates across several hotels, and track pickup in real time. Branded booking sites keep event identity intact while guiding attendees to approved options near venues or convention centers. The platform supports the rules that real events need: minimum night stays, cutoff dates, and release patterns that protect contracted pickups.
Where Meetingmax shines is flexibility and visibility. Pace reports help event owners see which properties are filling and where marketing nudges are required. Monetization models such as commission and rebate structures are supported and can be reconciled with clear data. The product is not an instant booking marketplace for ad hoc groups. It is designed for planned programs with defined allocations, multiple stakeholders, and a calendar that leaves little room for error. For association conferences, citywides, and complex producer led events, Meetingmax is a strong choice.
5) HotelPlanner and Meetings.com - wide marketplace with RFP driven options
HotelPlanner runs a large marketplace for group hotel bookings. Planners submit event details and receive proposals from participating hotels. The model spans weddings, reunions, sports travel, and business groups, and it is complemented by Meetings.com for meeting space sourcing. The benefit is choice. You can pull offers from many brands and independents, compare concessions, and pick a fit based on budget and location.
RFP cycles introduce variability. Response time and quality depend on hotel engagement and market conditions. HotelPlanner has added faster response features for simpler scenarios, and some events can move quickly when a hotel is ready to accept without long negotiation. For users who want a wide funnel and are comfortable evaluating several proposals, the marketplace approach works. Corporate teams with strict billing requirements may still need internal processes to close gaps such as consolidated invoicing.
For weddings and sports blocks, the appeal is broad reach and price comparison. For corporate and association programs that need instant booking or complex housing rules, consider pairing HotelPlanner with a focused housing or sourcing tool. As a general marketplace that brings many options into one place, it remains a notable player.
6) EventConnect - purpose built for sports tournament housing
EventConnect ties tournament registration and scheduling to official hotel options. When teams sign up, the platform directs them to approved properties, which helps rights holders deliver contracted pickups. Families see schedules and hotel information in one place, which reduces confusion when brackets shift or fields change. For organizers, pace and compliance reports make it easier to manage stay to play policies and to forecast financial outcomes.
The value is alignment. Hotels get clear demand signals. Teams get a simple path to book near fields and rinks. Event owners get the reporting they need to manage contracts and plan communications. The scope is intentional. EventConnect is not aimed at unrelated corporate group blocks or association housing. It focuses on the specific rhythm of youth and amateur sports. If your calendar is full of weekend tournaments across multiple venues, this focus is a strength and not a limitation.
7) Groupize - small meetings and simple groups with governance
Groupize streamlines the long tail of small meetings and basic room blocks. Templates capture the essentials, approval flows protect policy, and sourcing tools collect comparable proposals without heavy admin work. For training classes, regional meetings, and project kickoffs, that means faster turns and fewer errors. Reporting gives program owners visibility into spend and volume, and the interface is built for non specialists.
Groupize is not trying to replace citywide housing engines or enterprise sourcing at massive scale. Its strength is practicality. If your organization runs frequent but modest events, Groupize can standardize the process and reduce the email and spreadsheet burden that usually comes with them. Governance features keep finance and procurement in the loop without slowing teams down.
8) MeetingPackage - live venue inventory for rooms and space
MeetingPackage focuses on direct venue inventory for meeting rooms and, in many cases, group bedrooms. Planners search, compare, and book based on live pricing and availability. Venues can distribute inventory across channels and power their own booking engines, which supports direct booking strategies and dynamic pricing. For single property events and flexible layouts, this is much faster than a traditional RFP cycle.
Coverage depends on venue adoption, which means availability varies by market. Complex multi hotel housing is outside the core use case. For organizations that run many small meetings or training sessions and want to confirm space without heavy process overhead, MeetingPackage is a practical fit.
Honorable mentions
Below are some concise summaries for additional group platforms that our readers may consider. These are not full reviews, just a quick summary in case you see something that fits your unique needs better than one of the top 8 options above. We've highlighted the core use case, the ideal fit, and common tradeoffs.
HopSkip
HopSkip is a hotel sourcing tool that helps planners collect structured proposals and compare them side by side. The interface focuses on clarity so decision makers can evaluate concessions, dates, and terms without digging through email threads. Contracting support keeps context in one place from first request to signature. HopSkip is not a housing engine and it does not manage multi hotel blocks. The fit is best for teams that run frequent sourcing cycles and want fewer manual steps with a clean, modern workflow.
Resiada
Resiada provides event housing with branded booking sites and real time pickup reporting. Organizers can set up inventory, rates, and rules, then watch reservations flow in by property and date. The value is a straightforward stack that gets a housing site live quickly. Resiada focuses on the housing layer. It is not a broad registration or event marketing system. For associations and producers that want clear pickup visibility without enterprise complexity, it is a practical choice.
EventPipe
EventPipe offers cloud based event housing that prizes speed to launch and flexible booking site design. Teams can assemble hotel options, publish a clean attendee experience, and monitor pace in real time. The feature set is intentionally focused, which keeps setup light. EventPipe is not built for deep registration workflows or complex sub block rules. It works well for producer led events and associations that want a fast, simple housing solution with solid reporting.
onPeak
onPeak is a long standing housing provider for large exhibitions and conventions. The company delivers official housing programs that span several hotels, with branded booking sites and robust reporting. Service is a major component, which suits complex stakeholder environments. onPeak is not a self serve marketplace for ad hoc groups. It fits organizers who want an experienced partner to manage allocations, pickup, and reconciliation at scale.
Team Travel Source
Team Travel Source specializes in sports tournament housing. The company partners with rights holders to set up official hotels, align with stay to play rules, and guide teams and families through booking. Emphasis is on communication and service because schedules change and families need support. Team Travel Source is not aimed at unrelated corporate group blocks. It is built for youth and amateur sports programs that repeat across many weekends and venues.
TRAVELING TEAMS
TRAVELING TEAMS provides sports housing services with event specific booking sites and real time tracking. The model centralizes reservations so event owners can deliver contracted room nights to hotels. Support for teams and coaches is part of the core offer. Like other sports specialists, this is not a general instant booking platform for unrelated groups. It is meant for tournaments that want consistent execution across markets.
Where Will They Stay
Where Will They Stay is a concierge wedding room block service. Couples get help identifying nearby hotels, comparing options, and moving from inquiry to contract. The provider communicates with hotels and manages follow up, which saves time for couples and planners. It is not a self serve marketplace with instant confirmations. The fit is best for weddings and social groups that want guided service rather than enterprise features.
The Knot Hotel Blocks
The Knot is a wedding planning marketplace that includes hotel block pathways through partners. Couples can discover nearby properties while they plan venues, vendors, and timelines. The appeal is convenience inside a familiar ecosystem. The Knot does not attempt to run complex housing programs. It works well when couples want discovery and a simple path to connect with hotels for guest blocks.
WeddingWire Room Blocks
WeddingWire offers wedding planning tools and a route to hotel blocks via partner networks. The experience mirrors The Knot with a focus on discovery and easy connection. It is not built for advanced housing rules or corporate logistics. For couples who want to find suitable hotels near their venue and start the room block process without extra complexity, WeddingWire is a straightforward option.
Connections Housing
Connections Housing delivers third party housing services for many event types. The team builds branded booking sites, manages allocations across hotels, and reports on pickup. This model suits organizers who want to outsource housing operations. Connections is not a self led instant booking tool. It fits associations and exhibitions that value experienced service and predictable delivery across multiple properties.
HBC Event Services
HBC Event Services focuses on sports event housing with a strong emphasis on communication and compliance. The company establishes official hotels, assists teams with booking, and tracks pickup against stay to play policies. The value is consistency across a busy tournament calendar. HBC is not a marketplace for unrelated group blocks. It is tuned to the realities of youth and amateur sports.
Anthony Travel
Anthony Travel serves collegiate athletics and large public events with a managed travel and housing model. Services can include flights, ground transport, and onsite support in addition to hotel blocks. The advantage is a single partner that understands athletic department needs and large event logistics. Anthony Travel is not optimized for quick one off corporate group blocks. It is best for programs and events that benefit from a hands on provider across a full season or calendar.
hubli
hubli focuses on instant booking for meeting rooms and small offsites with policy controls. Companies can publish preferred suppliers, set budgets, and capture approvals inside the booking flow. Reporting gives travel and procurement visibility into spend and usage. hubli is not a multi hotel housing system. It works best for teams that need fast access to day space and simple governance without running a full sourcing cycle.
Zola Hotel Blocks
Zola is a wedding planning platform that connects couples to hotel block partners. The experience lives alongside registry tools, checklists, and wedding websites, which keeps planning in one place. Zola is not built for enterprise housing features. It is a good match for couples who want a simple path from venue selection to guest friendly lodging near the celebration.
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