The Bigger Your Group The Juicier the Discounts

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Booking hotels for big groups is often a lot more complicated than it should be. Whether you’re coordinating a team’s travel schedule, planning a huge family reunion, or organizing a corporate retreat for your top-talent, finding the right accommodation for big groups can be a logistical nightmare for even the most seasoned travel manager. The bigger your group, the more of a pain it becomes.

Most hotel websites aren’t even built for groups, and getting multiple quotes usually means tons of phone calls and long email threads, just to maybe get a discount. And often times, especially for the biggest of groups, you’ll have a hard time finding hotels that actually have enough rooms to fit everyone in. And then, when you do find a hotel that can fit everyone, you have to pray they also have the vacancy available to squeeze the entire group in. Yeah, it can get kind of crazy.

That’s where Engine.com comes in.

Engine is a hotel booking platform built specifically for large groups and business travelers. We connect you with pre-negotiated group rates, handle trip logistics, and deliver fast, side-by-side hotel proposals, all for free. From weddings to business travel to sports tournaments, Engine makes group bookings easier and more affordable.

Recent Examples Where We Saved Our Clients Big Bucks

Let’s look at a few real-world examples where Engine.com makes a massive difference, both in convenience and in cost-savings.

Example #1 - Texas College Football Team on a 7-City Scrimmage

 A college football team recently reached out and explained to us that they were about to hit the road for seven scrimmage games. With 85 people traveling, they needed 43 hotel rooms per city for players, coaches, and other staff.

Typically, they just stop along the interstate when they see something convenient. Recently, the school has been tightening the purse strings and has reduced their available funds for lodging and travel. Faced with this, they decided to explore cost-saving options. Luckily, they came across Engine and saved in a big way.

• Public Room Rate: $87/night
• Engine Group Rate: $64/night
• Rooms Needed Per Night: 43
• Trip Length: 17 nights
• Total Room Nights: 43 × 17 = 731
• Savings Per Room: $23
• Total Savings: $23 × 731 = $16,813 saved

• Total Cost at Public Rates: $87 × 731 = $63,597
• Total Cost with Engine: $64 × 731 = $46,784

Bonus Perk:
The team earns Engine Rewards on every stay, and because Engine’s program stacks with chain rewards like Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, those points add up fast. Coaches can apply those benefits toward future travel, upgrades, or perks for the team.

Example #2 - Corporate Executive Retreat in Aspen

 A New York–based company contacted us and was wanting to setup a trip for their top 50 executives and salespeople to an all-expenses-paid retreat in Aspen, Colorado. Engine handles both lodging and airfare, so this was a fantastic match. Aspen is also in our Company HQ’s backyard, we are well-familiar with the area. 

Basic Details:

• Flights (NYC → Aspen, Round Trip): $806 per person
• Hotel Rooms in Aspen (Jan Avg.): $407 per night
• Guests: 50 people (1 room per person)
• Trip Length: 3 nights
• Total Room Cost at Public Rate: 50 × $407 × 3 = $61,050
• Total Airfare: 50 × $806 = $40,300
• Total Public Cost: $61,050 + $40,300 = $101,350

Engine Group Bundle Discount: 36%
Savings: $101,350 × 0.36 = $36,486 saved
Final Cost with Engine: $64,864

Bonus Perk:
Everything was bundled and managed from one dashboard. No spreadsheets, no stress, just better pricing and trip-wide rewards. It should be noted they booked the trip for 2024’s top performers in early 2025, so between Engine.com's savings and the early reservation savings, they got quite a massive discount. Needless to say, they were very happy. 

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Example #3 - The Parker Family Reunion in Las Vegas for Summer 25’

A 350-person family reunion in Las Vegas needs rooms for their 10-year get together, and fast. Booking through Engine.com made it easy and saved them thousands of dollars.

• Average Hotel Rate: $182/night
• Rooms Needed: 175
• Trip Length: 2 nights
• Total Room Cost at Public Rate: 175 × $182 × 2 = $63,700

Engine Group Discount: 33%
Savings: $63,700 × 0.33 = $21,021 saved
Final Cost with Engine: $42,679

Bonus Perk:
Engine’s trip managers handled everything from gathering quotes to organizing guest check-ins. The family just showed up and enjoyed the reunion.

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Why Engine.com Is Built for Large Groups

Planning travel for a big group of travelers takes more than just a search bar and patience. You need a system that can:

• Handle quotes from multiple hotels at once
  
• Offer real group discounts, not just coupon codes
  
• Negotiate rates and amenities based on your needs
  
• Provide support from real trip managers
  
• Allow for centralized billing and special requests
  
• Work for hotels, flights, and rental cars

Engine delivers all of that, at no cost to you. Yes, for real.

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How does Engine make money then if this is all free?‍

What do you mean? We don’t make any money, we do all of this out of the goodness of our hearts! Ha, kidding. We do make a few bucks, actually.

The reality is, we earn commissions from our network of over 800,000 hotel partners. Hotels absolutely love big groups in need of accommodation, and they’re more than happy to pay for those bookings.

It just so happens that we know a lot of groups — like yours — that would love to meet those hotels that have all these great discounts to offer. So we make the introduction and take our commission from the hotel side. It’s truly a win-win-win situation.

You get huge discounts for your group. We get paid. And, depending on how big your group is, the hotel gets to flip on its “NO VACANCY” sign. A beautiful thing for everyone involved!

Who Uses Engine.com?

Engine supports groups of all shapes and sizes:

• Sports teams and college athletics programs
  
• Wedding parties and destination ceremonies
  
• Corporate offsites, leadership retreats, and incentive trips
• Large family reunions and milestone celebrations
  
• Construction crews and field operations
  
• Fan clubs, music tours, and conference attendees

If you're looking for reliable, affordable accommodation for big groups, Engine.com is your go-to solution.

Ready to Start Saving?

Don’t waste days calling hotels and chasing group rates. With Engine.com, you can submit one form with all your trip details and get multiple hotel proposals within minutes, often with savings of up to 30% - 60%.

Visit Engine.com/groups and see how easy it is to book for your group today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I make a group hotel booking through Engine.com?
A: Making group reservations through Engine.com is pretty straightforward. Simply fill out the trip form on our Groups page, and one of our trip managers will invite you to our free platform and dashboard. There, you can select room types, must-have amenities, hotels, locations, and more. Our platform will match you with hotel properties that fit your needs. Your trip manager will negotiate the best rates and terms for your group and handle the logistics of booking rooms and managing the reservations. And yes, this includes airfare and car rental, if that’s one of your needs. 

Q: What are the benefits of booking hotel room blocks and extended stays on your platform?
A: Booking hotel room blocks and extended stays with Engine.com means you receive the best possible rates and terms for your entire group trip, often saving you $1,000’s. Our free platform allows you to browse properties, compare rates, and book your stay, all in one place. You'll save hours of time because we simplify every aspect of the booking process. We handle rate negotiation, booking the rooms, gathering signatures, and even reconcile charges or issues after your checkout.

Q: Do you offer discounts on hotel room blocks?
A: Yes, of course! Engine.com makes getting discounted accommodation rates for large groups a seamless process. Once you select a property for your group, our trip managers will negotiate directly with the hotel to secure rates and terms you can’t find online.

Q: What types of groups can reserve room blocks?
A: Engine.com caters to a wide range of group types, including construction crews, wedding parties, sports teams, company offsites, and more. We make booking hotels for any group a breeze.

Q: How do I cancel or modify my reservation?
A: On your existing itinerary, scroll to "Modify This Reservation" or, from the Upcoming Trips tab, click the ellipses on the right side of the reservation and select "Modify This Reservation." You can change guest information, alter dates, and add special requests. Engine will contact the property on your behalf to make the request and will contact you with the status within one business day.

Q: Who should I contact if I have an issue with my reservation?
A: Our Member Support team is here for you through every step of your journey, from booking to check-in and beyond. Chat, call, or email our support team anytime you have questions or need help, they’re available 24/7.