Experiences
Everything you need to know about creating, managing, and optimizing experiences in ExperienceLocal. From basic setup to advanced pricing strategies.
Overview
Experiences are the core of ExperienceLocal. They represent any bookable activity, tour, service, or amenity that guests can discover and reserve through your widget. A well-crafted experience listing can significantly increase bookings and guest satisfaction.
Create
Build compelling listings with photos, descriptions, and pricing
Schedule
Set availability, manage capacity, and control bookings
Optimize
Track performance and refine for maximum conversions
New to Experiences?
If you haven't created your first experience yet, start with our step-by-step creation guide →
Experience Types
ExperienceLocal supports three types of experiences, each with different creation workflows and management permissions.
First-Party Experiences
Created and managed directly by your hotel. You have full control over all aspects including pricing, availability, and content.
- Full editing control
- Instant publishing
- 100% revenue (minus fees)
- Direct guest communication
Provider Experiences
Submitted by approved local experience providers (tour operators, activity companies, etc.). Requires your approval before going live.
- Approval workflow
- Commission-based revenue
- Provider manages content
- Automated payouts
Third-Party Imports
Import experiences from platforms like Viator or GetYourGuide. Automatically sync availability and pricing from external sources.
- Auto-sync availability
- External booking handling
- Affiliate revenue model
- Expanded catalog instantly
Managing Experiences
All experience management happens in your dashboard under Dashboard → Experiences.
Create
Add new experiences with the guided creation wizard. Fill in details step-by-step.
Edit
Update any aspect of an experience at any time. Changes take effect immediately.
Duplicate
Clone an existing experience to create variations quickly without starting from scratch.
Archive
Remove experiences from your widget without deleting data. Restore anytime.
Bulk Actions
Select multiple experiences to perform bulk actions like publishing, pausing, or changing categories. Use the checkboxes in the experience list view.
Availability & Scheduling
Control when guests can book your experiences with flexible scheduling options.
Weekly Recurring Schedule
Set up a repeating weekly pattern for when your experience runs.
Example:
- • Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM
- • Saturday: 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM
- • Sunday: Closed
Pricing Options
ExperienceLocal supports flexible pricing models to match how you sell your experiences.
Per-Person Pricing
Charge each guest individually. Best for tours, classes, and group experiences.
Example: Wine Tour
$75 per person × 4 guests = $300 total
Fixed/Flat Pricing
One price regardless of group size. Best for private experiences or amenities.
Example: Private Cabana Rental
$250 per day (up to 6 guests included)
Tiered/Group Pricing
Offer discounts for larger groups to encourage bigger bookings.
Example: Cooking Class
- • 1-2 guests: $100/person
- • 3-4 guests: $85/person (15% off)
- • 5+ guests: $75/person (25% off)
Media Management
High-quality visuals are crucial for driving bookings. Experiences with 5+ photos convert up to 40% better than those with fewer images.
Photos
- Minimum 3 photos – Recommended 5-8 for best results
- First photo = cover image – Shown in listings and search
- Formats: JPG, PNG, WebP (max 5MB each)
- Resolution: 1200×800px minimum, 2400×1600px recommended
- Drag to reorder – Arrange in the most compelling sequence
Videos
- YouTube or Vimeo links – Paste the video URL
- 30-90 seconds ideal – Keep it engaging and focused
- Show the experience – Action shots, happy guests, the setting
- Auto-plays muted – Add captions for accessibility
Photo Quality Matters
Avoid stock photos when possible—authentic images of your actual experience build trust and set accurate expectations. Show real people enjoying the activity, the venue, any food/drinks included, and the local scenery.
Categories & Tags
Organize your experiences to help guests discover what they're looking for quickly.
Categories
Each experience belongs to one primary category. Categories appear as filter buttons in your widget.
Tags
Add multiple tags for searchability and cross-filtering. Tags help guests find experiences that match specific interests.
Custom Categories
Need a category that doesn't exist? You can create custom categories in Dashboard → Settings → Categories. Custom categories appear in your widget's filter bar alongside the defaults.
Publishing & Lifecycle States
Experiences move through different states from creation to retirement. Understanding these states helps you manage your catalog effectively.
*Pending Approval only applies to provider-submitted experiences
Work in progress. Not visible to guests. Save and continue editing anytime.
Provider-submitted experience awaiting hotel approval. Review before publishing.
Live and bookable. Appears in your widget and accepts reservations.
Temporarily hidden from guests. Existing bookings are honored. Resume anytime.
Removed from active listings. Data preserved for records. Can be restored.
Best Practices for High-Converting Experiences
Follow these proven strategies to maximize bookings and guest satisfaction.
Write Compelling Titles
❌ Weak
"Wine Tour"
✓ Strong
"Sunset Wine Tour: 3 Award-Winning Napa Wineries"
Use Specific Details
- Include exact duration (e.g., "3 hours" not "half day")
- List what's included (equipment, food, transport)
- Mention group size ("Intimate groups of 8 max")
Set Accurate Expectations
- Be honest about physical requirements
- Clearly state cancellation policies
- Note weather-dependent conditions
Optimize Photos
- Lead with your best action shot
- Show diverse groups enjoying the experience
- Include close-ups of food, equipment, scenery
Price Strategically
- Research competitor pricing
- Offer group discounts to increase party size
- Test different price points and measure conversions
Avoid Common Mistakes
- • Too few photos – Listings with 5+ photos get 3x more bookings
- • Vague descriptions – Be specific about what guests will do and see
- • Ignoring mobile – 60%+ of bookings come from mobile devices
- • No urgency – Mention limited availability or seasonal exclusivity
Related Documentation
Explore more guides to get the most out of your experience listings.
Create Your First Experience
Step-by-step guide for beginners to create and publish their first experience.
Booking Management
Handle reservations, confirmations, modifications, and cancellations.
Provider Onboarding
Invite and manage local experience providers for your property.
Analytics & Insights
Track performance, identify top performers, and optimize conversions.
Ready to Create Your First Experience?
Follow our step-by-step guide and have your first experience live in under 15 minutes.
Get Started