Increase your room rental revenue: this is how smart options and packages work

Many landlords unintentionally lose revenue. Not because they don't want to sell, but because the process of offering extras is often a hassle. Follow-up emails about lunch, calling to ask if a projector is needed, or manually adjusting invoices. It all takes time. And as a business owner, you usually don't have time to spare.

What if you could automatically generate that extra revenue while booking? With i-Reserve you can transform a simple room reservation into a complete experience. In this article, we'll explore how smart options and packages can increase your order value without any extra work on your part.

Why Upselling Works (and Why It's Service)

Let's be honest: "upselling" sometimes sounds like a commercial gimmick. Selling something the customer doesn't need. But in the venue rental business, the opposite is true. Upselling is actually a form of service.

Imagine: an executive secretary needs to book a meeting. She wants more than just four walls and a roof. She wants to make sure the presentation runs smoothly (projector), that no one goes hungry (lunch), and that ideas can be put down on paper (flipchart). If you don't offer these options upfront, she'll have to ask for them. Or worse: she'll forget and end up empty-handed on the day itself. By making extras clear and clickable in your booking system, you take the burden off the client. You increase your revenue per booking, and the client is happy with a fully catered day. Win-win.

The power of 'Options': from basic rent 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" automatically appears in the reservation dialog. This is the moment when the customer thinks, "Oh yeah, coffee would be nice."

What can you offer?

The possibilities are endless, but here are a few proven best-sellers for meeting venues:

• Audiovisual equipment: A projector, a large screen, or a hybrid meeting set.
• Facilities: A flip chart, whiteboard markers or an extra table.
• Catering: From a simple coffee/tea arrangement to an extensive lunch.

Tip: Think beyond the standard. Just as a bowling alley rents out shoes, you can consider niche extras. Do you rent out a creative space? Then offer a brainstorming box with post-its and markers.

Set up smart pricing strategies

The beauty of i-Reserve is that you control the pricing. Not every option works the same way. You have complete control over how the costs are calculated:

• Per reservation (one-time): Ideal for equipment. You rent a projector 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 participant. If the customer books for 10 people, the system automatically charges 10 times the lunch price. No more calculation errors at the counter.
• 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 to always check this option and prevent it from being removed. This prevents discussions later.

Arrangements: make it easy for the customer

Sometimes offering individual options isn't enough. Customers often aren't looking for "room + projector + coffee + sandwich," but simply a "4-hour meeting package." This is where packages come in.

Bundling is cash

A package combines multiple products or activities into a single booking. Instead of having to check five boxes, customers choose a single package. The system handles this as a single entity backend.

This not only works for the classic "bowling and stone grilling" combinations, but is also worth its weight in gold for the business market:

• The Morning Package: Room rental (08:00 - 12:00) + unlimited coffee/tea + luxury sandwich lunch afterwards.
• The Hei-session: Room rental all day + lunch + a guided walk or activity as a break.

Bundling makes choosing easier. Customers immediately see the total price and know what to expect. Moreover, you can offer a slightly more competitive price with a package deal than with individual components, making customers more likely to choose the more luxurious package.

In 5 steps to more turnover (Workflow)

Are you thinking, "Sounds good, but isn't that complicated to set up?" Don't worry. i-Reserve is built to work for you, not to give you headaches. You can approach the setup step by step:

1. Choose your product: In the admin area, go to Configuration > Objects > Manage Products. Select the room you want to enrich.
2. Add extras: Use the Options tab/section in the product settings. Here you can create the link to the extra items you want to rent out.
3. Set the price: Set whether the price should be calculated per piece (reservation) or per person.
4. Create the package (optional): Want to bundle? Then go to Manage Packages. Here, you can combine the venue and catering into a single, saleable item.
5. Check the front end: The result is immediately visible. Open the reservation dialog as your customer sees it and check whether the 'Options block' is logically organized.

Cross-selling: think like a webshop

You know the feeling from large online stores: "Others also bought..." or "Complete your order with...". Now you can apply that principle to your venues. By cleverly configuring options and packages, you actively cross-sell without having to conduct sales calls yourself. The system asks the question for you.

• Has someone selected a large room? The system displays the option for an additional microphone set.
• Is your booking around lunchtime? Lunch options are prominently displayed.

i-Reserve takes care of the technology, you take care of the hospitality

Ultimately, as a business owner, you want to focus 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 offer a seamless customer experience.

Customers don't have to search, call, or email for an entire day. Everything is ready in one clear menu. And you? You see bookings coming in with a higher order value, while you know exactly how many sandwiches need to be ordered and in which room the projector needs to be set up. That's smart business.

Can we help you with furnishing?

Want to get started with options or packages, but unsure about the best setup for your specific situation? Or would you like i-Reserve free for 30 days ? Contact us, we're happy to help.