You might have asked yourself:
“Do I even need a housing company?”
Great question! Securing prime dates and locations for your event isn’t just about exhibit space square footage. The number of rooms you book makes a big difference, too. Cities and venues consider this metric when assessing how an event will feed the local economy. That means counting every room night booked by attendees and exhibitors is essential to landing your ideal location.
At onPeak, we boost your pick-up and catch those last-minute reservations, helping you lock in future event dates and locations.
Can your event benefit from working with a housing partner? Consider these 5 critical insights.
1. The advocacy advantage
Does your internal team include someone well-versed in all things housing? (Realtors need not apply!) If not, consider this a must-have partnership. Working with an advocate dedicated to your needs — peak block, flow patterns, number of hotels, and which ones align with your attendees’ preferences — is vital. Equally important, your partner should be able to offer customized solutions to optimize your hotel blocks, enhance participant satisfaction, and deliver exceptional value.
2. Maximizing buying power
Just like you wouldn’t hire a plumber to fix your WiFi, you don’t want to go into room block negotiations not backed by a housing expert. Without them, how do you know you’re getting the best rate? Can you guarantee that the block pattern lines up with your history? A skilled housing partner should live and breathe room blocks. They can confidently navigate complex negotiations to secure the best deals — ensuring your attendees pay less and you benefit from favorable terms.
3. Streamlined booking experience
Nowadays, almost anything is available with a few clicks, and booking in your room block shouldn’t be any different. Your housing partner’s technology needs to offer a simple, one-stop solution that makes finding and reserving the ideal hotel easy. Whether it’s a property with free breakfast or wanting to stay loyal to a specific brand, a hassle-free booking process can quickly highlight these features to save time and eliminate frustration, letting attendees focus on enjoying the event.
4. Solving the room block puzzle
Balancing room blocks is like playing Tetris. And sometimes, making the pieces fit is challenging! What if the peak night is full but the shoulder nights are still available? What if someone needs to stay Monday through Thursday, but Tuesday is sold out? Your housing partner should always optimize inventory using smart strategies like:
- Monitoring booking pace and stepping in when necessary to maintain progress
- Analyzing historical event data to identify trends and make informed decisions
- Adjusting room blocks to maximize pick-up, ensuring efficient use of all rooms
5. Messaging matters
Marketing your room block should be baked into your overall event communication plan. Simply put, plug it every chance you get. Start by considering what content is most compelling to your audience. Do your attendees and exhibitors extend their stay for personal time? If so, maybe they want to know about extra amenities. Is your crowd budget-conscious? Highlighting free offerings like breakfasts or happy hours might be appealing. Using this targeted approach, housing partners can effectively communicate with potential bookers, spotlighting official hotels and informing attendees about the advantages of booking in the block.
At your service:
The housing pros at onPeak LOVE discussing how we can turbocharge your room blocks and keep your attendees and exhibitors happy. Email us at [email protected], and we’ll show you how to do it!
