What does this setting control?
The “Require a booking to attend” setting determines how residents participate in a Community Event.
It defines whether residents must reserve a spot or can simply express interest in your event.
When booking is required
When this setting is enabled:
Residents must book a spot to attend
They can add guests (if enabled)
The event can have a capacity limit
Payments or deposits can be applied
Staff can optionally manage and review bookings
This creates a structured event where attendance is controlled.
Use this when:
Space is limited
You need an accurate headcount
You are charging for the event
You need guest details
Example:
A fitness class with limited spots or a paid wine tasting
When booking is NOT required
When this setting is disabled:
Residents can select “Interested”
No booking or reservation is made
No capacity limits are enforced
No payments are collected
This creates a more flexible, open event.
Use this when:
The event is informal or drop-in
You don’t need to track attendance strictly
There is no limit on participation
Example:
A holiday party or lobby social
Key differences
Feature | Booking Required | No Booking Required |
Resident action | Book a spot | Mark “Interested” |
Capacity limits | Yes | No |
Payments | Supported | Not supported |
Guest tracking | Yes | No |
Booking management | Yes | No |
What happens if you change this setting after publishing?
Changing this setting after residents have interacted with the event can have a significant impact.
From “No booking required” → “Booking required”
Residents who selected “Interested” will no longer be marked as interested and will have to respond to the event by completing a booking
No bookings are created automatically
Residents must book a spot to attend moving forward from the change
From “Booking required” → “No booking required”
All existing bookings will be cancelled
If residents are interested in the event they will have to manually indicate they are interested in the event (this isn't done automatically for them when their booking is cancelled)
You will be prompted to confirm before saving
A cancellation message must be sent to affected residents
Learn more:
Important notes
This setting is only available for Community Events
It cannot be used for Meetings or Notices
Changing this setting after publishing should be done carefully