A booking system made for rafting operators

Running a rafting centre means big groups, early starts and a river that won’t wait. Waivers need signing, every raft needs a guide and the right kit, and the phone keeps ringing with people who want to book for Saturday.

eola is a booking system built for activity businesses like yours. Here’s how it handles the busiest parts of a rafting day, and how it helps you sell more across the year.

Waivers and questionnaires done before the day

Customers sign your disclaimer and answer your questions online when they book, so nobody is filling in forms on a clipboard while the group waits by the river. If someone hasn’t signed, eola emails them a reminder.

Your team can see who has answered for each session, and fill in a questionnaire with a customer who rings up or arrives without finishing it.

On Pro, the AI questionnaire checker reads every completed questionnaire and flags the answers your guides should look at, such as a health condition or an answer that doesn’t meet the requirements you’ve set for the trip. It’s a second pair of eyes, not a replacement for your own checks.

Question packs and disclaimers are included on every plan. Our guide to managing questionnaires and question packs covers the details.

Rafts, kit and guides that never double-book

Every trip needs rafts, paddles, buoyancy aids and helmets, as well as a guide. With automated resource management, eola keeps track of your kit as bookings come in, so you never sell more places than you have rafts or wetsuits for. It’s part of the Pro plan.

Spare kit can earn money too. On Pro you can sell rentals, such as kayak or paddleboard hire, and eola keeps track of what’s available.

In the calendar, you can filter by resource to see how each raft or boat is booked, and change the capacity of a single session when the river level or the forecast means you’d rather take fewer people out.

Guide calendars and qualifications

Each guide has their own calendar, so you can see who’s available, assign them to trips and avoid double-booking anyone.

Add each guide’s qualifications, such as raft guide or first aid certificates, and eola lets you know six weeks before one expires. You can also set permissions for each member of your team.

Unlimited instructors, instructor calendars and instructor permissions are included on every plan.

Bookings day and night, on your website and the marketplace

Most people plan a rafting trip in the evening or at the weekend. The eola booking widget sits on your own website, so customers can choose a trip, add their group and pay in a few clicks, at any time of day.

You can also list your trips on the eola marketplace, where people search for things to do by area and activity. It’s included on every plan, and marketplace bookings come through your widget and show up in your reports like any other booking.

On the day, QR code check-in on Pro lets the front desk scan each group in from their booking confirmation email.

Keep bookings coming in out of season

Rafting is seasonal, but your income doesn’t have to be. A few things that help:

• Gift vouchers: sell credit vouchers or vouchers for a specific trip, so people buy in winter and book in spring. Credit vouchers are included on every plan.
• Memberships: give regulars, such as club paddlers or local families, member prices and other benefits. Memberships are included on every plan.
• Discount codes: fill quieter weekdays with a limited-time code for groups or locals. Discount codes are part of Pro.
• Reviews: eola can ask every customer for a review after their trip, which helps new customers choose you.

Take it from Cardiff International White Water

Cardiff International White Water is one of the largest white water centres in the UK. They take bookings on eola for everything from mini rafting and family trips to extreme white water rafting and raft guide workshops.

What it costs

Starter is £0 a month and Pro is £249 a month. Card payments have a 1.7% + 30p processing fee, and customers pay a 5% booking fee at checkout. See our pricing page for what each plan includes, or our rafting page for more.

See eola in action

Want to see how this could work for your business? Book a demo or get in touch with our team.