The ‘Max Pax’ tab is where we begin to modify the availability specified in the ‘Intervals’ tab. (The configuration varies from vendor to vendor.)
Here are a few examples of when you might use this tab:
Hint: Remember to test and run your setup through the ‘Preview and Links’ tabs.
Option 1 - Set Session Times (re-occurring blockout):
This is the option for those who only want customers to book at specific times.
1 - Make sure the ‘Max Pax’ tab is selected.
2 - Go to the ‘Recurring’ tab (default option).
3 - Choose the days when this blockout occurs.
4 - In the ‘Available’ section, select '0'.
5 - In the ‘Time Slots’ 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 - If you want to add another, use the ‘+Add Another’ option or, when finished click ‘Save’.
Hint: Limiting booking times is also a great way to prevent people from booking late at night while still showing you are open. For example, you may have stated in your trading hours that you are open until 10pm, but your last booking slot is at 8pm. So you would use the above option to select all times after 8pm to prevent any bookings from taking place. Keep an eye on your Intervals and do not forget to test.
Option 2 - Limit Your Max Pax (Re-occurring):
This option is for those who need to change their original ‘Max Pax’ setting for a specific day(s). For example, you might be content to do 30 covers per hour on the weekend, but only 15 during the week. As a result, we will use this section to demonstrate/adjust this.
1 - Check the ‘Max Pax’ tab is selected.
2 - Choose the days when this blockout occurs.
3 - In the ‘Available’ section, choose the number of customers you want to reduce to for specific times.
4 - In the ‘Time Slots’ section, hover over the desired period and click the 'drop down' arrows.
5 - Additional times will appear after clicking. By checking each individual checkbox, you can specify when you want the setting to take effect.
6 - If you want to add another, use the ‘+Add Another’ option or, when finished click ‘Save’.
Bonus Tip: This option is excellent for controlling booking habits. For example, at 7pm, all customers' bookings should be halted. You could lower the pax between 7pm and 8pm and then use your default ‘Max Pax’ settings for all times after that. This encourages customers to book earlier or later, leaving your peak times (7pm-8pm) less crowded.
Single Day Blockout:
A one-day blockout is precisely what it sounds like. It is only used on certain days. These can be used to close your venue for the entire day, or for a portion of the day.
The setup for this can be found by looking at the examples above, as all steps remain the same; the difference is that this time, at step two, you select the ‘Single Day' tab and at step three, you select a date.
What Comes Next?
More ‘Blockouts’.