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Outside the box cost cutting idea (4 Viewers)

M

Mike

Nitro Member
Pardon if this already done in drag racing. What I'm suggesting IS done in non-motorsports activities.

When people list expenses, lodging and food for crew is usually mentioned.
What if: For races within a reasonable distance of metro areas, NHRA partnered with hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, etc. to reserve blocks of rooms at a bulk discount.

These rooms could then be reserved to racers (pro and/or sportsmen) at a discounted rate below what they would pay on their own. Perhaps the hotel chain could get some advertising in return.

Same concept for food vendors like Sisco. It may be a little savings, but as mentioned in another thread, grains of sand eventually make a heap.
 
Michael,

Not arguing, just asking. If the hotel is corporately owned then you might be able to do something like that, but the vast majority of them are franchised.
So, you own a hotel and your normal rate is $100 per night. The Super Bowl is coming to town, or World series, or Drag Race, or College Graduation or whatever major event. The demand skyrockets and you know every room in town will be sold out for $250 a night.

Why would you as a business owner agree to rent the rooms for $100? In some of the smaller markets they will even have a minimum night stay. For instance in Brainerd it is common to check out of a hotel on Sunday and drive to the cities for an early Monday flight. But Brainerd hotels would have a minimum, so you had to pay for Sunday even if you didn't use it. I could still make the drive Sunday and stay near the airport, but I had to pay for that room myself. NHRA wouldn't reimburse since they were already paying for the room in Brainerd.

Years ago I went to the July 4th NASCAR race in Daytona. I had business in Tampa so just wanted to go overnight. I called a local hotel and was told 3 nights minimum. I said: I only need one. Guy said: I have a call on the other line, do you want it or not? I kept calling places farther and farther away and at about 50 miles I found a place that would give me just one night.

I should add that there are a couple of travel companies that specialize in the racing side of things that do book blocks of rooms, and then handle that for the teams. So maybe they can book the rooms for $225 instead of $250 and as you said, grains of sand...

Alan
 
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Here's a real world example. The PRI show is in downtown Indy December 11-13.
Take a look at room rates downtown those days, then look at the same rooms a week later. Look also in Plainfield and out by the airport. When you move away from the event, you'll get a better rate.
And tell me, if you owned a hotel what would your rates be?

Here's what I have decided, it costs more (for the room) to stay downtown, but downtown Indy is skywalk connected so I don't need to rent a car, and don't need to pay for parking everyday when I drive downtown. Financially it's a wash, but much more convenient to pay extra for the room.

Alan
 
I'd rather see these hotel chains and food service providers become major sponsors of drivers myself. Has there ever been a hotel chain do this - sponsor an event or a driver?
 
why would a hotel chain want to sponsor a drag racer? what is it about drag racing that would make either a corporation, or a franchise owner
say, 'wow, there's the advertising vehicle (pun intended) we've been missing' ...... good luck with that idea. maybe when 20 other fortune 500 companies
begin to sponsor via nhra, a hotel brand might take notice.
 
well, people stay at hotels when the travel to a race for one thing.....secondly, it's a chance to reach to groups they may not be otherwise reaching.

Why would cereal or candy sponsor NASCAR cars? Agree, though, it would be nice to see more corporations want to advertise at our races.
 
Alan, I mentioned reasonable distance of metro areas. Never been to Brainerd, but to the best of my knowledge rural northern Minnesota isn't metro.

Minimum stay is not an issue. My idea is for a chain to partner with NHRA for the teams. If it was expanded to fans, I guess that would increase the pool.

Not every idea is feasible in all situations, but if nothing it tried, then there's no way of knowing if it will work. As I mentioned, outside motorsports variations of this idea are being done.

Did Motel 6 sponsir NHRA at one time? I vaguely recall adds during the days when there was an audio broadcast.
 
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Mike said:
Alan, I mentioned reasonable distance of metro areas. Never been to Brainerd, but to the best of my knowledge rural northern Minnesota isn't metro.

Minimum stay is not an issue. My idea is for a chain to partner with NHRA for the teams. If it was expanded to fans, I guess that would increase the pool.

Not every idea is feasible in all situations, but if nothing it tried, then there's no way of knowing if it will work. As I mentioned, outside motorsports variations of this idea are being done.

Did Motel 6 sponsir NHRA at one time? I vaguely recall adds during the days when there was an audio broadcast.
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I worked with a girl who did the agreements for Hotels in our Fortune 500 company. Basically, one Hotel at a time. We only did the most travelled to locations and most Hotels would block out certain dates from the agreement for special events in town.
 
I'm all for discussion, and I think that a large hotel/resort sponsor could be a big win. Like a contest where a fan wins a vacation in Hawaii for example. That could be done at the corporate level. Years ago when the LUXOR sponsored a TF car they did that for a couple of years. Or sign up to win a 4 night stay at the event next year, which would probably involve the franchisee for that property.

And you are correct about the larger metropolitan areas if you are willing to drive you can get a better rate, but since most racetracks are not in the middle of town, you do pay extra for the convenience of staying closer to the track. I have stayed at places that are a 45 minute drive from the track, that just adds more time to what is already a long day. As a fan, you would have to decide if the savings is worth the headache.
Alan
 
Just my .02 on the subject. Back in the day there was a contact at NHRA that select racers had access to. She helped us book rooms where the NHRA staff was staying. It made for some interesting times in the bar/restaurant after qualifying was over.
 
none said:
I'm all for discussion, and I think that a large hotel/resort sponsor could be a big win. Like a contest where a fan wins a vacation in Hawaii for example. That could be done at the corporate level. Years ago when the LUXOR sponsored a TF car they did that for a couple of years. Or sign up to win a 4 night stay at the event next year, which would probably involve the franchisee for that property.

And you are correct about the larger metropolitan areas if you are willing to drive you can get a better rate, but since most racetracks are not in the middle of town, you do pay extra for the convenience of staying closer to the track. I have stayed at places that are a 45 minute drive from the track, that just adds more time to what is already a long day. As a fan, you would have to decide if the savings is worth the headache.
Alan
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Going to a 3 day race is already expensive we may not decide to go until a month ahead of time. Cost of a hotel is not really a factor, Madison, IL is a perfect example of not in the middle of town.
 
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