Guides

How to Use Blackout Dates to Manage Your Availability

ByGraham Beck

Last updated: April 30, 2026•3 min read

Article by

Graham Beck

Graham Beck is the Co-founder and CEO of DropDesk, a platform dedicated to a singular, transformative mission: unlocking the potential of underutilized spaces to foster human connection.

Ready to get started?

Whether you need a space, want to earn from yours, or are ready to build your own marketplace — we have you covered.

Find a Venue

Discover unique local venues for work, meetings, events, and celebrations.

Explore Spaces

Become a Host

List your space, service, or activity and earn more.

Start Earning

Build a Marketplace

Launch your own two-sided marketplace in days with no code.

Become a Partner

Guides

The 2026 Playbook: How to Fill Your Coworking Space (Without Burning Out)

Marketing a coworking space used to be about hosting happy hours and posting photos of latte art. In 2026, that isn't enough. The market has matured. Competition is fierce, and the customer journey has changed. Today's members expect instant booking, seamless digital experiences, and clear value propositions.

Graham Beck•January 28, 2026

Guides

How to Start a Profitable Coworking Space (Without Going Broke)

The era of the 10-year lease is fading. Today, businesses want flexibility, and remote workers want a reason to leave the house. For landlords and entrepreneurs, this creates a massive opportunity: Coworking. But opening a flexible workspace is not just about putting desks in an empty room and brewing coffee.

Graham Beck•January 28, 2026

Guides

Stop Burning Cash During the Day: Convert Your Restaurant into a Coworking Space

Restaurant margins are notoriously thin—often hovering between 3% and 6%. Yet, for many dinner-focused venues or spacious cafes, the biggest asset (the real estate) sits empty or underutilized for 40+ hours a week. Turning your restaurant into a coworking space isn't about pivoting away from food; it's about dayparting—using your quiet hours to generate a new, high-margin revenue stream.

Graham Beck•January 28, 2026

Guides

Beginners Guide To Coworking Franchises: Pros, Cons, and Costs (2026 Edition)

The flexible workspace industry has exploded, evolving from a niche trend for freelancers into a standard requirement for Fortune 500 companies. For entrepreneurs and landlords looking to enter this market, the biggest question is often: Should I build my own brand, or buy a franchise?

Philip Beck•January 28, 2026

Guides

How To Write A Media Pitch (Step‑By‑Step Guide)

Anyone can send a media pitch; very few consistently get covered. This guide walks you through exactly how to write pitches that land real stories, plus proven subject line formulas you can copy and adapt.

Graham Beck•January 28, 2026

Guides

How To Write A Press Release: The Ultimate Guide for 2026

If you are new to the PR scene or have been wondering whether your company needs to write a press release, you have come to the right place. In this article, you will learn what a press release is, why it's important, and the best ways to get media coverage in the modern digital landscape.

Philip Beck•January 27, 2026

Download the App

Book your favorite spots on the go. Available on iOS and Android.

Download on theApp Store

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Quick Answer

If you need to temporarily stop accepting bookings for a holiday, vacation, or minor renovation, use the Blackout Dates feature in the DropDesk Spaces mobile app. Unlike unpublishing your venue—which hides your listing entirely—Blackout Dates block off specific days on your calendar while keeping your profile active and visible in search results for future bookings.

Blackout Dates vs. Unpublishing: Which Should You Use?

Before blocking your calendar, it is important to understand the difference between blacking out dates and manually unpublishing your venue. Choosing the wrong option can unnecessarily hurt your search visibility.

Feature	What It Does	Search Visibility	Best Used For
Blackout Dates (Mobile App)	Blocks specific days or date ranges on your calendar.	High. Your listing stays live and visible in search results for future dates.	Vacations, national holidays, private events, or short-term maintenance.
Unpublishing (Web App)	Pauses the entire venue profile indefinitely.	None. Your listing is completely hidden from the DropDesk platform.	Long-term closures, major renovations, or pausing your business.

The Bottom Line: If you plan on welcoming guests back after a short break, always use Blackout Dates. It ensures you don't lose the SEO momentum your listing has built up.

How to Add New Blackout Dates

With just a few taps in the DropDesk Spaces mobile app, you can block off time and ensure no bookings are accepted during those periods.

Step 1: Access the Blackout Calendar

Log in to the DropDesk Spaces mobile app.
Navigate to your Activity Calendar.
In the top right corner, tap the Calendar Icon to open your Blackout Dates section. (Here, you will see a list of any dates you have already blacked out).

DropDesk mobile app showing the Activity Calendar with the Calendar Icon in the top right, and a calendar picker for selecting blackout dates

Tap the Calendar Icon to access Blackout Dates, then select dates to block on the calendar.

Step 2: Select Your Dates

Tap the "+" (Plus) icon in the top right corner. A calendar view will appear.
Select the dates you want to block out by tapping on them. They will highlight in blue.

Note: You can choose a single day, or select a start and end date to seamlessly block off multiple days at once.

Step 3: Save

Once you have selected your dates, tap Save.
You will be redirected back to the Blackout page, where you can verify your updated list of blocked dates.

How to Remove a Blackout Date

Plans changed? No problem. If a previously blocked day opens up, you can easily restore your availability.

Go to your Blackout Dates list in the mobile app.
Tap and hold the date you would like to remove, then drag it to the left.
A red Delete button will appear on the right side of the screen. Tap it.
A confirmation pop-up will appear. Click OK.
The date will instantly be removed from your blackout list, and your space will become available to book again for that time period.

Need Help?

The Blackout Dates feature gives you full control over your schedule while keeping your listing active and visible. If you ever need assistance managing your availability, our Support Team is always here to help.