Poacher – Action Plan

How should you proactively combat poachers?

Do not list exhibiting companies on the event website.
Make sure that your attendees, speakers, and exhibitors know how, when, why, and by whom they will be contacted regarding event housing.
Include prominent links to hotel information in every event communication so that the attendees and exhibitors can book directly through official channels.
Include ‘official housing’ messaging in all event communications.
Include messaging on the event website warning event participants of the possibility of poacher situations

What should you do if a poacher situation arises?

Send an email to your event participants informing them of the situation. Be sure to remind them that the only official housing company affiliated with the show is onPeak. We have put together some email templates to help you with this. Simply download the Poacher Email Templates provided in the Marketing Clipboard and customize them for your event. (link)
Poachers can be very tricky in the way they present themselves, so it is important that the “Poacher Alert” communications come from you (the organizer), as opposed to being sent by onPeak. This way, attendees and exhibitors will know for sure that onPeak is the official housing partner for the event.
If you know the names of the poaching companies that have been reaching out to your attendees and exhibitors, include those in the “Poacher Alert” communications that you send.
Update your website copy (or post copy to website if you have not already done so) alerting event participants of the recent poaching situation and the dangers of booking a room with any company other than onPeak, the only official housing company of the event.
File a report! The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has created a process for individuals and companies to report these activities. The FTC will share these reports with their law enforcement partners to help with investigations and stop these practices.
1. Go to Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
2. Click on “Report Now”
3. For Question 1: “Is your report about any of these common problems?”
  1. Select “An Impersonator” (top left answer)
4. For Question 2: “Who were they pretending to be?”
  1. Select “Well-known or trusted business”
5. Click “Continue”
6. Add as much information as you have and submit!
- Have your attorneys send a cease-and-desist letter to the poaching firm(s) warning them of legal action if they do not stop targeting your event participants. Be sure to include that you have already reported them to the FTC. We have created a sample letter to help you with this. Download the sample letter provided in the Marketing Clipboard and customize it for your event/situation.