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. What are Optional Extras?
Optional Extras are add-on products, food packages, or merchandise presented to customers during the online booking flow right after they select their session date and tickets. They provide an effortless way to boost average revenue per booking.
Industry Examples of High-Converting Extras:
- Mini Golf & Adventure Golf: "Light-Up Glow Golf Ball (Keep Me!)" (£3.00), "Post-Round Slush Puppy Voucher" (£2.75), "Mini Golf Putter & Ball Upgrade" (£2.00).
- Soft Play Centres: "Official Grip Socks (Pair)" (£2.50), "Kids Picnic Lunchbox (Sandwich, Drink & Snack)" (£4.95), "Adult Barista Coffee & Cake Voucher" (£4.50).
- Laser Tag & Combat: "Camo Face Paint Kit" (£1.50), "Extra 15-Minute Mission Extension" (£4.00), "Dog-Tag Souvenir" (£2.50).
- Farm Parks: "Animal Feed Bags (2 Bags)" (£2.50), "Tractor Trailer Ride Token" (£2.00), "Pony Grooming Experience" (£5.00).
- Santa's Grottos: "Mounted Photograph with Santa" (£7.50), "Santa's Magical Key" (£4.00).
2. Creating an Optional Extra
1 Go to Sessions > Extras (EventTicketOptionExtras.aspx).
2 Select your category from the dropdown (or select any activity to see existing extras).
3 Scroll down to Add new extra and enter the product details:
- Title: Name shown to the customer (e.g. Glow-in-the-Dark Golf Ball or Kids Lunch Box).
- Price (£): Unit cost (e.g.
3.00).
- Description: Brief product description or sizing guidelines.
- Max Qty: Maximum quantity permitted per booking (e.g.
8).
4 Click Add Extra.
3. Assigning Extras to Multiple Events
You do not need to recreate the same extra for every activity! SmartBookings includes a multi-event assignment tool:
1 Locate your extra in the extras list.
2 Click the blue Assign to Events button.
3 A panel appears with checkboxes for all activities across your system. Tick all sessions where this extra should be available (e.g. tick Soft Play, Toddler Play, and After-School Play).
4 Click Save Event Assignments. The item is instantly live across all selected booking pages!
4. Linking Extras to Specific Ticket Options
Sometimes an extra should only be offered when a specific ticket type is chosen (for example, a "Santa Present Selection" should only appear if a paying "Child Ticket" was selected, not for adult spectator tickets).
- In the extra's settings, use the Linked Ticket Option setting to tie the extra to a specific tier.
- If the linked ticket is not in the customer's basket, the extra remains hidden.
5. How Customers Experience Extras Online
During the customer booking journey, the flow is smooth and non-intrusive:
- Customer selects Date & Time (
BookTickets.aspx).
- Customer selects Ticket Quantities (e.g. 1 Adult, 2 Children).
- The system displays the Optional Extras step (
BookEventTicketsOptionalExtras.aspx) featuring attractive product tiles with quantities and prices.
- Customer adds desired items and proceeds to checkout. Total price automatically updates in the basket summary.
Order Tracking: All booked extras appear clearly on the booking confirmation email, printed till receipts, and in the Booking Summary admin screen under the booking items breakdown.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do checkout add-ons and optional extras increase average spend per visitor?
Optional extras present high-margin add-ons -- such as branded grip socks, meal deals, character meet-and-greets, or celebration cakes -- during the booking checkout process, typically increasing average order value by 15% to 25%.
Can optional extras like grip socks or slush puppies be limited by stock inventory?
Yes. You can assign stock limits to each extra item. Once the available quantity for that date or session is exhausted, the item automatically displays as 'Sold Out' to prevent over-promising physical merchandise.
Can extras be restricted so they only appear for specific categories like birthday parties?
Yes. When setting up extras in EventTicketOptionExtras.aspx, you select which parent categories can display each item. For example, birthday party extras (party bags, cakes) will only appear when booking a party package.
Can I make certain extras mandatory, such as grip socks for trampoline parks?
Yes. You can configure options to require customer confirmation or default quantity selections for required safety items like reusable anti-slip grip socks or climbing shoe rental.
How do purchased extras appear on the daily reception check-in run-sheets?
All purchased extras are listed directly on the front-desk scanner screen and printed kitchen run-sheets, allowing reception staff to hand over socks, tokens, and party supplies immediately upon guest arrival.
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