On this page
Key takeaways
- Your weekday rate applies Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays and the day before one.
- Price levers: a platform-only weekday discount, an offer line, a lower daytime rate and a lower weekday minimum.
- Convenience levers: instant book, a short lead time, and fast replies to enquiries and Name your price requests.
- Team events, workshops, rehearsals, shoots and small social groups are common weekday bookings. Tick their amenities and add detail.
- Review your weekday calendar monthly and change one or two things at a time.
Four things fill weekday slots: a platform-only weekday discount, instant booking, a short lead time, and amenities and copy aimed at weekday guests. Team events, workshops, rehearsals, shoots and small social groups are the usual weekday bookings.
- Mon to Thu
- When the weekday rate applies
- 30 minutes
- Usual latest booking time for self check-in venues
- 24 hours
- To answer a request (host confirms)
Which days are weekdays?
Friday to Sunday, public holidays and the day before a public holiday are charged at the weekend rate. That leaves Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays and the day before one. These are the slots you need to work for.
Price or convenience: which levers to pull?
Price levers
- A platform-only weekday discount
- An offer line that names the days it covers
- A lower weekday daytime rate
- A lower weekday minimum
- Group discounts for companies and schools
Convenience levers
- Instant book
- A shorter lead time
- Fast replies to enquiries and requests
- Answering Name your price requests
- Amenities ticked and described in detail
You can use both. If you would rather not cut prices, start with convenience: many weekday guests care most about booking and being confirmed straight away.
Win weekday guests on price
Weekday discount
You can set a platform-only weekday discount, applied automatically to weekday hours. The total guests see in search already includes it, so it shows up when they compare.
Offer line
Add a platform-only offer line to your venue page, telling guests what they get by booking on Gatherland. Be specific, for example which days it applies to.
Time bands
Daytime is usually quieter than evening. A lower weekday daytime rate can draw workshops, shoots and rehearsals.
Lower the barrier
- A lower minimum number of hours on weekdays lets you take short bookings.
- Group discounts can attract company and school groups.
For details, see pricing your venue.
Win weekday guests on convenience
Turn on instant book
Many weekday bookings are decided at short notice. With instant book the booking is confirmed as soon as payment succeeds, with no waiting for the host. Before you switch it on, make sure your calendar is accurate and bookings from other channels are synced or blocked.
Shorten your lead time
Self check-in venues can usually be booked up to 30 minutes before the start; staffed venues need about two hours' notice. If you can handle short notice, do not set a longer lead time than you need.
Reply quickly
- Answer enquiries and booking requests fast. Host-confirms venues have 24 hours, but sooner is better.
- Watch for Name your price requests, where guests post a date, group size and budget. You can answer with an offer.
A template for replying to Name your price and enquiries
Guests want a reply they can decide on straight away. Write it in this order:
- 1
Confirm what they need
Repeat the date, time, group size and type of event, so they know you have read it properly.
- 2
Say how your venue fits
Pick two or three amenities that matter for their event, such as tables, a whiteboard and a projector for a workshop.
- 3
State what the total includes
Hours, included amenities and add-ons, and the deposit if you take one.
- 4
Be clear about limits
Minimum hours, cleaning time and the key house rules, so nothing surprises them later.
- 5
Tell them the next step
How to confirm the booking on the platform. Keep all communication in platform messages.
Who books on weekdays?
| Occasion | What they look for | What your listing should show |
|---|---|---|
| Team building, company gatherings | Space, a projector, easy transport | A wide shot of the whole space, where the projector is, the walk from the MTR |
| Workshops and classes | Tables and chairs, a whiteboard, a projector | Table layout, the whiteboard, how many can be seated |
| Dance rehearsals, band practice | A mirror wall, equipment, soundproofing | The full mirror wall, equipment models, soundproofing |
| Photo and video shoots, livestreams | Natural light, a cyclorama, Wi-Fi | Daylight photos, the backdrop wall, Wi-Fi |
| Small social groups, mahjong | Mahjong tables, consoles, instant book | Mahjong table type, console models, instant book |
If your venue has these amenities, tick them in the amenity list and add detail so guests who filter can find you. See writing a listing that converts.
Set up your weekdays in one go
- 1
Set a platform-only weekday discount
It is applied to weekday hours automatically and included in the total in search.
- 2
Write an offer line
Say what the offer is, which days or times, and any conditions.
- 3
Check your weekday daytime rate
If daytime slots stay empty, consider a lower rate for that time band.
- 4
Check your weekday minimum
If your cleaning time allows, set it lower on weekdays so you can take short bookings.
- 5
Consider instant book
First make sure your calendar is accurate and bookings from other channels are synced or blocked.
- 6
Check your lead time
If you can handle short notice, do not set it longer than you need.
- 7
Tick the amenities weekday guests need
Projector, whiteboard, mirror wall, Wi-Fi, mahjong tables and so on, with quantities and models.
Review what is working
Small changes, checked over time, work better than one large discount. Change one or two things at a time so you can tell what worked.
Keep your calendar accurate
An inaccurate calendar leads to failed bookings and double bookings, and both hurt reviews. Keep it current with manual blocks and iCal sync. See calendar sync with iCal.
Frequently asked questions
Which days count as weekdays?
Friday to Sunday, public holidays and the day before a public holiday are charged at the weekend rate. So weekdays are Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays and the day before one.
How do I set a weekday discount?
You can set a platform-only weekday discount. It is applied automatically to weekday hours, so the total guests see in search already includes it. You can also add an offer line to your venue page.
Does instant book really help?
Many weekday bookings are last-minute decisions. With instant book the booking is confirmed as soon as payment succeeds, so guests do not have to wait. Only switch it on once your calendar is accurate, including bookings from other channels.
How can I win weekday guests without instant book?
Reply to enquiries and booking requests quickly. Guests can also use Name your price to post a date, group size and budget, and you can answer with an offer.
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