Get more revenue from your venue hire: how smart options and packages work
You have beautiful spaces. The location is excellent, the chairs are comfortable and the atmosphere is exactly what your guests are looking for. Yet something occasionally niggles. You see bookings coming in for "the room only". That's perfectly fine, of course — the space is hired out. But deep down you know: there's more potential here.
Many venue owners inadvertently leave revenue on the table. Not because they don't want to sell more, but because the process of offering extras is often a hassle. Sending follow-up emails about lunch, calling to check whether a projector is needed, or adjusting invoices manually — it all takes time. And time is something you rarely have to spare as a business owner.
What if you could simply bring in that extra revenue automatically during the booking process? With i-Reserve, you can turn a straightforward venue reservation into a complete experience. In this article, we look at how smart options and packages can increase your order value — without any additional effort on your part.
Why upselling works (and why it's actually good service)
Let's be honest: "upselling" can sometimes sound like a commercial trick — pushing something on a customer they don't really need. But in venue hire, the opposite is true. Here, upselling is actually a form of service.
Imagine a PA who needs to book a meeting room. She doesn't just want four walls and a ceiling. She wants to be sure the presentation will run smoothly (projector), that nobody goes hungry (lunch), and that ideas can be captured on paper (flipchart). If you don't offer those options upfront, she has to ask for them. Or worse — she forgets, and on the day itself she's caught short. By making extras clear and easy to select within your booking system, you take the hassle away from the customer. You increase your revenue per booking, and the customer is delighted with a fully catered day. Everyone wins.
The power of 'Options': from bare hire to a complete package
In i-Reserve, the Options functionality is your most important tool. Think of an option as a building block you add to your main product (the venue). When a customer books online, an 'Options block' appears automatically in the reservation dialogue. This is the moment when the customer thinks: "Oh yes, coffee would be handy."
What can you offer?
The possibilities are endless, but here are a few proven favourites for meeting venues:
- Audiovisual equipment: A projector, a large screen, or a hybrid meeting set-up.
- Facilities: A flipchart, whiteboard markers, or an extra table.
- Catering: From a simple tea and coffee arrangement to a full working lunch.
Tip: Think beyond the standard offerings. Just as a bowling alley hires out shoes, you can consider niche extras. Hiring out a creative space? Offer a 'brainstorm box' complete with Post-it notes and markers.
Setting up smart pricing strategies
The great thing about i-Reserve is that you remain in full control of your pricing. Not every option works in the same way, and you have complete control over how costs are calculated:
- Per booking (one-off): Ideal for equipment. A projector is hired once for the entire session, regardless of whether there are 5 or 50 people in the room.
- Per person: Essential for catering. A lunch package is set up per attendee. If the customer books for 10 people, the system automatically calculates the lunch price times 10. No more arithmetic errors at the front desk.
- Mandatory or optional: Sometimes an option isn't a choice. Think of mandatory cleaning fees or a basic service package. You can configure the system so that this option is always ticked and cannot be removed — avoiding any disputes afterwards.
Packages: make it easy for the customer
Sometimes offering individual options isn't enough. Customers often aren't looking for "venue + projector + coffee + sandwiches" — they simply want a "4-hour Meeting Package". This is where Packages come into their own.
Bundling means business
A package combines multiple products or activities into a single booking. Instead of having to tick five separate boxes, the customer selects one bundle. The system handles everything on the back end as a single unit.
This works not only for classic combinations such as "bowling and a grill dinner", but is particularly valuable for the corporate market:
- The Morning Package: Venue hire (08:00–12:00) + unlimited tea and coffee + a premium sandwich lunch afterwards.
- The Away Day: Full-day venue hire + lunch + a guided walk or activity as a break.
By bundling, you make the decision easier. The customer sees the total price at a glance and knows exactly what they're getting. What's more, you can price a package slightly more attractively than individual components, making customers more inclined to choose the more comprehensive option.
5 steps to more revenue (Workflow)
Are you thinking: "Sounds great, but isn't that complicated to set up?" Not to worry. i-Reserve is built to work for you, not to give you headaches. You can set everything up step by step:
- Choose your product: In the admin area, go to Configuration > Objects > Manage products. Select the venue you'd like to enhance.
- Add extras: Use the Options tab within the product settings. Here you create the link to the additional items you wish to hire out.
- Set the price: Specify whether the price should be calculated per unit (booking) or per person.
- Create the package (optional): Want to bundle? Go to Manage packages. Here you combine the venue and catering into a single sellable item.
- Check the front end: The result is visible immediately. Open the reservation dialogue as your customer sees it and check that the 'Options block' is laid out logically.
Cross-selling: think like an online shop
You'll be familiar with it from major online retailers: "Customers also bought..." or "Complete your order with...". You can now apply that same principle to your venues. By setting up options and packages intelligently, you engage in active cross-selling without having to conduct any sales conversations yourself. The system asks the question on your behalf.
- Has someone selected a large venue? The system displays the option for an additional microphone set.
- Is the booking around lunchtime? The lunch options are shown prominently.
i-Reserve handles the technology, you focus on hospitality
Ultimately, as a business owner you want to be focused on your guests, not on administration. By automating your upselling through i-Reserve, you kill two birds with one stone. You significantly increase your revenue per booking and deliver a seamless customer experience.
The customer doesn't need to search, call, or email to arrange a complete day. Everything is ready in one clear, easy-to-navigate menu. And you? You watch the bookings come in with a higher order value, knowing exactly how many lunches need to be ordered and which room needs the projector set up. Now that's smart business.
Can we help you get set up?
Would you like to get started with options or packages but aren't sure about the best configuration for your specific situation? Or would you like to try i-Reserve free for 30 days? Get in touch with us — we'd be happy to help.