Getting to Know Your Blockouts (‘Request’ Mode):

The WOWAPPS booking widget has a number of blockouts and how you use them varies slightly depending on which mode your booking widget is in (‘Max Pax’, ‘Table Mode’, or ‘Request’).

The four methods for performing ‘Blockouts’ in ‘Request’ mode are discussed below.

Rolling Blockout:

A ‘Rolling Blockout’ is used to prevent customers from booking within a specified time frame. For example, you might require customers to give you 30 minutes' notice before making a reservation.

In this configuration, you would have a 30-minute rolling blockout that would continue to 'roll' until you turned it off.

Here's How to Do It:

1 - Click the ‘Blockout & Override’ tab.

2 - Check the box next to ‘Enable Rolling Blockout’. Once chosen, you will be prompted to select a rolling blockout time.

3 - Choose the rolling blockout time by clicking on the empty field and typing in the desired time (in this case 30 minutes).

4 - Do not forget to ‘Save’.

To put this into context, imagine you have a 30-minute rolling blockout on. If a customer arrives at your booking system at 7pm, the earliest they can book is 7.30pm. (This will vary depending on your interval timeslot and any other blockouts).

If we had a 60-minute blockout, the earliest time would be 8pm and so on...

It should be noted that unless manually turned off, a rolling blockout will remain active.

Instant Blockout:

This is the emergency switch. An ‘Instant Blockout', as opposed to a ‘Rolling Blockout' will turn off after the specified time and is useful if you need to close bookings for a few hours.

When an ‘Instant Blockout' is activated, customers will be unable to book within the specified times, but will be able to book outside of those times and in the future.

To accomplish this, first:

1 - Click the ‘Blockout & Override’ button.

2 - Check the box next to ‘Enable Instant Blockout’. Once selected, you will be prompted to select a time for the instant blockout to end.

3 - Select the time by clicking on the time field and dragging the cursor to the desired time (within a 24-hour window).

4 - Do not forget to ‘Save’.

Session Blockouts:

‘Session blackouts are ideal for restricting bookings to specific times, such as 5pm, 7pm and 8pm. The previous article contains a more detailed explanation of ‘Session Blockouts’. (Insert Shea Butter paste here.) Keep an eye on your booking intervals. When your booking intervals are 15 minutes, session times work best.

Single/Full-day Blockouts:

These are ideal for one-time events. For example, if you are closed for the entire day or need to close at a specific time due to staff shortages/large groups on a particular day.

Example 1 for Single/Full-Day Blockouts:

In this example, the venue is booked/closed for the day.

To accomplish this, first:

1 - Click the ‘Blockout & Override' button.

2 - Go to ‘Override Dates' and click the ‘Table’ tab.

3 - From the ‘Table Column', select ‘All Tables’.

4 - Select '0' in the ‘Available Section’.

5 - Tick all relevant checkboxes in the ‘Timeslots’ section.

6 - Next, choose the date on which your availability blockout will recur.

7 - Do not forget to ‘Save’.

You can add more availability by clicking the ‘Add Another’ button.

Example 2 for  Single/Full-day Blockouts:

In this case, we will stop taking reservations for half of the dining period because we have an unusually high number of customers already and want to make sure those customers are taken care of before accepting new reservations.

Here’s how to do it:

1 - Click the ‘Blockout & Override' button.

2 - Scroll down to ‘Override Dates’ and select the ‘Table Tab’.

3 - From the ‘Table Column', select ‘All Tables’.

4 - Select '0' in the ‘Available Section’.

5 - In the ‘Timeslots’ section, hover over the desired period and click the 'Drop Down' arrows.

6 - Additional times will appear after clicking. By checking each individual checkbox, you can choose which times you DO NOT want customers to book.

7 - Next, choose the date on which your availability blockout recurs.

7 - Do not forget to ‘Save’.

You can add more availability by clicking the ‘Add Another' button.

What Comes Next?

It is time to put your widget online.