At a Glance • Key Takeaways
- Automated Efficiency: Streamline online bookings, live availability scheduling, and customer communication without manual intervention.
- Live Capacity & Conflict Prevention: Prevent double-booking across staff, rooms, activity sessions, or rental fleet assets in real time.
- 0% Platform Booking Fees: SmartBookings does not charge transaction fees or take percentage cuts of your ticket sales or customer payments.
1. Why Descriptions Matter
Rich, clear descriptions give customers the confidence to complete their booking. Your activity description appears directly on the public booking pages above the calendar, explaining what is included, rules of play, age restrictions, arrival instructions, and cancellation policies.
Tailored Descriptions Across Industries:
- Mini Golf & Adventure Golf: Course layout (e.g. 18 pirate-themed holes), accessibility for prams/wheelchairs, putter/ball collection instructions, and weather policies.
- Soft Play Centres: Safety rules, grip sock policies, age ranges, baby area separation, and cafe food restrictions.
- Laser Tag & Combat: Safety briefings, minimum age requirements (e.g. 6+), vest sizing, and flat closed-toe shoe requirements.
- Farm Attractions: Weather-appropriate clothing advice, animal hygiene/handwashing stations, and feeding schedules.
2. Editing Descriptions Step-by-Step
1 Go to Sessions > Descriptions (EventDesc.aspx) in the left sidebar.
2 Select your category/event from the Select dropdown.
3 The rich text WYSIWYG editor loads the current description.
4 Use the toolbar formatting tools:
- Headings & Paragraphs: Structure with clear bold subheadings (e.g. What's Included, Important Information).
- Bullet Points & Numbered Lists: Great for readable lists of rules or packing checklists.
- Hyperlinks: Link to waiver forms, menus, or terms & conditions.
- Images & Tables: Embed promotional graphics, pricing comparison charts, or schedule overviews.
5 Click Save Changes at the bottom.
3. What to Include in a Great Description
Best Practice Checklist:
- Target Ages: e.g. Suitable for children aged 0–11 years or Recommended for ages 6 to adult.
- Footwear / Attire: e.g. All children must wear grip socks; adults must wear socks in play areas or Flat, closed-toe trainers are required for laser tag.
- Arrival Times: e.g. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your session start time for check-in.
- Food & Drink Policy: e.g. Only food and drink purchased in our on-site café may be consumed.
- Supervision Ratio: e.g. A responsible adult (18+) must remain on-site throughout the visit.
4. Instant Live Preview
To see how your formatted text appears on mobile and desktop:
- Go to Sessions > Categories, click your category, and click the View Live Booking Page tab in the top pill menu.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add arrival rules and footwear policies to the online booking page?
Go to Sessions > Descriptions (EventDesc.aspx). Select your activity category and use the rich text editor to format key policies such as mandatory grip socks, arrival 15 minutes before session start, and outside food restrictions.
Can I include images and safety video embeds directly in session descriptions?
Yes. The rich text editor supports HTML formatting, allowing you to insert high-resolution photos of your play equipment, downloadable party invitation PDFs, and embedded YouTube safety briefing videos.
How do session descriptions display on mobile smartphones and tablets?
All SmartBookings session descriptions are fully responsive. Text and media automatically scale to fit smartphone screens, ensuring clear readability for parents booking on mobile devices.
Can different categories have completely unique arrival instructions?
Yes. Each category maintains its own dedicated description. For example, your 'Toddler Morning' description can highlight complimentary tea and toast, while your 'Teen Laser Tag' description specifies dark clothing and closed-toe footwear.
What key customer policies should always be included in attraction descriptions?
Best practice is to clearly state: 1) Recommended arrival time, 2) Footwear and attire requirements (e.g. socks required on play frames), 3) Age and height boundaries, 4) Parking and stroller access instructions, and 5) Summary of your cancellation policy.
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