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Booking a venue in Hong Kong comes with its own vocabulary. Here are the common terms in alphabetical order, each with a short explanation and a link where one helps.
Add-ons (加購項目)
Extras a venue offers for an additional charge, for example BBQ food sets. Each venue sets its own, and not every venue has them. See What are add-ons?
Automatic mahjong table (電動麻雀枱)
A mahjong table that shuffles and stacks the tiles for you, so nobody has to do it by hand. Browse mahjong rooms or party rooms with mahjong.
Band room (Band 房)
A music room where bands rehearse or record. Browse band rooms and music studios and music studios with a drum kit.
Booking deposit (訂金)
A part-payment some venues elsewhere ask for to hold a date, with the balance paid later. On Gatherland you pay the full amount online when you book, so there is no separate booking deposit. Don't confuse it with a security deposit.
BYO food / BYO alcohol (自攜食物 / 自攜酒精)
Bringing your own food or drinks to the venue. Whether this is allowed is up to the venue, so message the host before you book. Browse party rooms that allow BYO alcohol.
Cancellation policy (取消政策)
The rule that sets how much you get back if you cancel. Each venue on Gatherland uses Flexible, Standard or Strict. See the cancellation policy.
Catering (到會)
Food prepared by a caterer and delivered to the venue. Whether a venue allows outside catering is up to the venue, so ask the host before you book.
Cyclorama (無縫牆)
A studio backdrop that curves smoothly from wall to floor with no visible corner, so the background looks endless in photos and video. Browse photo studios with a cyclorama.
Day before a public holiday (公眾假期前夕)
The day before a public holiday. On Gatherland it is charged at the weekend rate.
Extending a booking (加鐘)
Staying on after your booked end time. Message the host before your booking ends; if you stay over without agreement, the host can claim for overtime against your security deposit. See What if I'm running late or want more time?
Finding a common time (夾時間)
Working out a date and time that suits everyone in your group. Try the date poll.
Horse-race game (跑馬仔)
A horse-race themed party game in which players or teams move pieces along a track, for example by rolling dice or answering questions. It is played just for fun, with no money or betting involved.
Host confirms (需場主確認)
A booking mode where the host must accept before the booking is confirmed. The host has 24 hours, your slot is held meanwhile, and nothing is charged if they decline. See What is the difference between instant book and host confirms?
Hourly hire (時租)
Renting a venue by the hour. On Gatherland, start times and durations are in 30-minute steps.
Industrial building (工廈)
A factory or warehouse building. Some party rooms, studios and band rooms are in industrial buildings, so on a first visit allow time to find the entrance and wait for the lift. The exact floor and unit are shown once your booking is confirmed.
Instant book (即時確認)
A booking mode where the booking is confirmed as soon as payment succeeds, with no wait for the host.
Minimum headcount (最低人數)
The smallest group a venue accepts for a booking. Each venue sets its own, so check the total before you pay.
Minimum hours (最低時數)
The shortest booking a venue accepts. Each venue sets its own.
Minimum spend (最低消費)
A minimum total a venue asks a booking to reach. If you are unsure about a venue's charges, message the host before you book.
Mirror wall (鏡牆)
A wall covered in mirrors, common in dance studios so you can watch your movements as you practise. Browse dance studios with a mirror wall.
MTR exit and walking time (出口 / 步行時間)
How long it takes to walk to the venue from the nearest MTR station exit. It is a common way to describe where a venue is.
Natural light (自然光)
Daylight coming in through windows, often used as a soft light source for photos. Browse photo studios with natural light.
Overnight session (過夜場 / 通宵)
A booking that runs from the evening through to the next day. Browse party rooms for overnight bookings.
Per-person vs per-room pricing (人頭計 vs 包房計)
Per-person pricing charges per person per hour, so the total changes with your group size. Per-room pricing charges per room per hour, whatever the group size. Each venue on Gatherland uses one or the other.
Security deposit (按金)
A refundable amount some venues take, shown before you pay. It is returned about 48 hours after the booking ends, and in full if you cancel. See How does the security deposit work?
Self check-in (自助式 / 自助入場)
There is no staff to greet you; you let yourself in with entry instructions, such as a door code. Gatherland sends these by email and WhatsApp before your start time, and these venues can usually be booked up to 30 minutes before the start. See How does check-in work?
Single-room hire (分房)
Booking one room in a venue that has several, while other groups may use the other rooms at the same time.
Splitting the bill (夾錢)
Sharing the venue cost and other expenses across the group. Use the cost splitter to work out each person's share.
Staffed venue (輔助式 / 職員在場)
A venue where staff are on site while you use it. These venues usually need about two hours' notice to book.
Taiwanese mahjong tiles (台牌)
Short for 台灣牌: the tiles used for Taiwanese mahjong, which is played with 16-tile hands. If you plan to play it, ask the host before you book whether the venue's table and tiles suit it.
Weekday rate (平日價)
The rate on days that are not charged at the weekend rate. On Gatherland, Monday to Thursday are charged at the weekday rate, except public holidays and the day before a public holiday.
Weekend and holiday rate (假日價)
On Gatherland, Friday to Sunday, public holidays and the day before a public holiday are all charged at the weekend rate.
Whole-venue hire (包場)
Renting the entire venue so only your group uses it. For large or corporate events, use the concierge form.
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