CenterEdge Software Blog

Use CenterEdge’s Advantage Consignment module to allow third party vendors to sell admissions, packages and other offerings. 

I had the opportunity over the weekend to chat with a friend who has been in hotel revenue management for the last 20 years. We exchanged our industries’ COVID-19 experiences over these last months. The travel and tourism industry, like family entertainment, has faced closures, partial openings, and low occupancies.

If this experience has taught me anything, it’s how important it is for local businesses to band together. I started thinking about how local family entertainment centers, hotels, tourism offices, and restaurants could help each other thrive during this difficult time. One way to raise the tide within the community is through partner voucher programs using the CenterEdge Advantage Consignment Module. Read on for how a voucher program could work for you.

Even though you may not be ready to holding events in your FEC, your sales staff need to stay sharp at managing birthday booking calls. 

Birthday parties and events have no doubt been a huge part of your business. Even if you’re not open or not currently holding events, your phone staff still need to be sales-ready.

In my experience secret shopping and training many family entertainment centers over the years, I’ve found that a lot of sales people fall short of winning the business. But that can change with your next phone call! Practice a few of these 10 do’s and don’ts and watch the shift from “I’ll call you back” to “I’ll book now.” 

Rather than putting up purchase barriers by forcing guests to pay a certain way, here are a few modifications that you can make to your operation to lessen your facility’s need for coins. 

With the US facing a coin shortage, we’re seeing signs posted in local businesses refusing cash, asking for exact change, or reminding us that they’re in need of change. Family entertainment businesses are faced with this issue, too. But before you join them in forcing guests into controversial payment processes, consider this: if a guest tries to give you money, you probably should take it.

Systems are ready. Offerings are updated. Capacity management controls are in place. For many facilities, it's showtime. But is your team ready?

To wrap up our blog series, Rethinking Your Facility Management Approach, we’d like to share a quick word of encouragement along with a few tips to consider when outlining your training plan for reopening your FEC. Take these three final steps to prepare to reopen.

In addition to planning your capacity management approach as you prepare to reopen, it will also be important to rethink how you invite guests to interact with your staff and other guests once onsite.

Like when creating your product offerings, it’s a good idea to give guests options to help them choose the experience - and the interactions - that work best for them. Here are five interaction points to consider.

As you consider the facility management systems that you will need to adapt to meet new operational guidelines, one of the most important considerations is how you will manage capacity.

Many indoor and outdoor attractions are already leveraging capacity ticketing for unique attractions, admissions - even for locker rentals and parking. Here are five new ways to use capacity controls that you may want to consider. 

We're excited to introduce CenterEdge Community, a new software training webinar series, and a revamped Help Center. 

Today’s CenterEdge Pro Tip provides a virtual tour of new communication tools and software training resources to help you manage your FEC or amusement facility. Watch the video to learn more.

Schedule your free upgrade to the new Advantage Web before May 31 and CenterEdge will also provide custom theming at no cost.

Your FEC’s or amusement park’s online store is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal to help you rebound from the COVID-19 crisis.  Allowing guests to buy from you anytime, anywhere and on any device can increase sales of any product or combo you offer.

If you haven't already, take advantage of this opportunity and put your facility in position to reap the benefits of CenterEdge’s newest online store experience by upgrading for free to Advantage Web. Here are 3 advantages of upgrading your online store now. 

Upgrade your waiver system now to prepare your business to welcome guests back.

While your first priorities right now are to keep those around you healthy and safe, you’re no doubt thinking of how to reduce the impacts of this unforeseen situation on your business.

In addition to keeping abreast of what medical organizations and local authorities are communicating, remember that member organizations such as IAAPA, IATP and AMOA offer a wealth of resources, legislative action items and continual updates to help you stay informed.

With the time you have left managing all those very important tasks, it’s a good idea to address all those other important, but not previously urgent, action items you’ve been meaning to take care of so that when you’re ready to reopen, you’ll set out at maximum efficiency.  

Once the isolation restrictions lift, your FEC or amusement facility will want to be prepared to welcome the public and your guests back. If your facility uses liability waivers, now is a great time to upgrade your waiver system so that you offer guests a better experience than ever. Here are 3 benefits you’ll see as a result.

A large bill comes in and a station needs change right away – so you need to call a manager.

A guest has a complaint so you’re needed at the station, but staff want to contact you discreetly.