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Planning events in a hotel sounds glamorous—banquet halls filled with laughter, seamless guest experiences, and a well-orchestrated team ensuring everything runs smoothly. However, as with most aspects of hospitality event planning, the reality can be much more complex.
A survey by EventMB found that 49% of hotel event challenges stem from time management, while 40% struggle with managing event budgets. This highlights how, despite appearing flawless on the surface, hotel event planning involves significant behind-the-scenes coordination, from handling last-minute changes to preventing logistical nightmares.
The good news? With the right strategies and tools, hotel event planning can be streamlined to minimize chaos and maximize success. Let’s explore 5 common hotel event planning mistakes and how to tackle them like a pro.
Juggling event bookings and room reservations while avoiding scheduling conflicts is one of the biggest challenges in hotel event management. And let’s face it—if a guest is booking your hotel’s venue, they likely need a place to stay, too.
Without a seamless connection between your event management software and property management system (PMS), miscommunications can quickly lead to availability conflicts, double bookings, and frustrated guests.
A modern PMS with event management features simplifies group reservations. Here’s how:
By integrating your PMS with event software, you maintain control over venue and room availability, prevent overbookings, and enhance guest satisfaction.
Event logistics can be overwhelming, from setting up tables to coordinating AV equipment and managing multiple vendors. A single missing microphone, a delayed catering delivery, or a misplaced seating chart can throw off the entire schedule, leaving staff and organizers scrambling.
A Banquet Event Order (BEO) acts as a central hub for event details, ensuring every department—from catering to housekeeping—knows exactly what needs to be done and when. Best practices for hotel event coordinators include:
Learn more about banquet event orders and how to use them.
Your event spaces are booked, but are they bringing in maximum revenue? A study by the Hotel Business Review found that hotels that implement upsell strategies can increase event revenue by up to 20%. Yet, many hotels fail to optimize revenue from their event spaces.
A well-planned event is an opportunity to boost revenue. Here’s how:
Even the most stunning event space won’t attract bookings if no one knows about it. Many hotels rely on word-of-mouth instead of a strong digital marketing strategy , leading to missed bookings!
A targeted digital marketing approach can turn underbooked venues into high-demand event spaces. Here’s how to make it happen:
1. Maximize visibility with Channel Manager integration
OTAs are great for property visibility, even if guests only book your hotel rooms. You increase bookings and attract more travelers by ensuring your hotel is listed across key booking channels with a channel manager . If you deliver a great guest experience, they’ll likely consider your venue for future events.
2. Target the right audience with paid ads
Run geo-targeted Google and social media ads to reach event planners, corporate organizers, and wedding coordinators in your area. Use dynamic retargeting to stay top of mind.
3. Turn your website into an event sales engine
Add an event-specific booking engine or inquiry form with clear pricing, availability, and instant quotes. Showcase virtual tours and past event success stories.
4. Offer value-added event packages
Bundle venue rental with catering, AV equipment, and room stays to create seamless event experiences. Promote limited-time deals during off-peak seasons to drive demand.
5. Host your own signature events
Position your venue as a go-to destination by organizing networking mixers, industry meetups, or exclusive dining experiences. These events generate buzz and organic content from attendees.
6. Encourage user-generated content & reviews
Ask past event organizers to share photos and testimonials on social media. Feature these on your website and Google Business profile to build trust and credibility.
Hotels are grappling with ongoing staff shortages , making it difficult to manage events without overburdening teams. When there aren’t enough hands on deck, setup delays, service bottlenecks, and miscommunication between departments can quickly turn a well-planned event into a logistical nightmare.
With leaner teams, automation is the key to running seamless events without stretching staff too thin. The right event management and PMS combination help streamline operations, ensuring that even a small team can execute events efficiently. By automating venue bookings, task assignments, and real-time updates, staff can focus on delivering exceptional experiences instead of chasing down information.
RoomRaccoon is the go-to all-in-one hotel management system for independent hoteliers looking to streamline operations, maximize revenue, and elevate the guest experience. But great hotel management doesn’t stop at rooms—it extends to events, too.
That’s why Pxier and RoomRaccoon have teamed up to provide hoteliers with an integrated solution that simplifies event space management and drives more bookings. From seamless venue reservations to effortless payment handling, our partnership ensures that managing events is as smooth as running your rooms.
Book a demo to explore RoomRaccoon!