Guides

Instant Bookings vs. Host Approved Bookings

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

DropDesk gives hosts two ways to accept reservations. Instant Booking (the default) allows guests to book immediately without waiting for confirmation, making it perfect for hosts who want a hands-off, high-volume setup. Host Approved Booking requires you to manually accept or decline each request via a quick SMS text message ("Y" or "N"). You can toggle these settings on or off for every individual package in your Host Portal.

Choosing How Your Space Is Booked

One of the biggest advantages of hosting on DropDesk is flexibility. You decide exactly how much involvement you want in the booking management process. Whether you prefer a streamlined, automated experience or want strict control over who books your space and when, DropDesk gives you the tools to manage it effortlessly.

Feature	Instant Booking (Default)	Host Approved Booking
Guest Experience	Books immediately, calendar syncs automatically.	Submits a request, waits for host response.
Host Action Required	None. Hands-off experience.	Must reply "Y" or "N" via SMS text.
Best Used For	Consistent availability, maximizing booking volume, hands-off management.	Variable availability, specialized spaces, vetting guests before approval.

What Is Instant Booking?

Instant Booking is the default setting on DropDesk. When enabled, guests can book your space and confirm their reservation immediately—no manual approval required from you.

This option is ideal for hosts who:

Want a completely hands-off booking experience.
Have highly accurate, consistent calendar availability.
Want to maximize booking speed and volume (Instant Book listings typically see higher conversion rates because guests don't have to wait).

To use this feature, simply leave the "Instant Bookable" toggle turned ON.

What Is Host Approved Booking?

Host Approved Booking allows you to review each individual booking request before the reservation is finalized.

How it works:

A user requests to book your space.
You immediately receive an SMS text message alerting you to the request.
You simply reply "Y" (Yes) to approve or "N" (No) to deny.

Note: If you do not respond in a timely manner, the system will automatically decline the request to prevent double-booking.

This option is ideal for hosts who:

Have availability that changes frequently outside of the DropDesk calendar.
Manage high-value or specialized spaces and need to vet requests on a case-by-case basis.
Want greater control without logging into a dashboard every time an inquiry comes in.

How to Manage Your Booking Settings

You can update booking preferences for any existing package at any time, or set them up fresh when creating a new offering.

Updating an Existing Package

Log in to the DropDesk Web App.
Click on the Packages tab.

DropDesk dashboard showing the Packages tab in the top navigation bar

Click on the Packages tab in the top navigation to manage your packages.

Select the package you want to manage.
Scroll down to the Instant Bookable toggle.

Edit Package modal showing the Instantly Bookable toggle at the bottom of the form

The Instantly Bookable toggle controls whether guests can book immediately or need your approval.

Turn the toggle ON for Instant Booking, or OFF to require Host Approval.
Scroll down and click Save Package. (Your changes will apply immediately).

Creating a New Package

From the Packages tab, click Add Package.
Fill in your package details, pricing, and keywords.
Locate the Instant Bookable toggle and turn it ON or OFF depending on your preference.
Click Save Package. This ensures your desired booking flow is set correctly from day one.

Booking on Your Terms

With DropDesk, you are always in control. You can switch between Instant and Host Approved at any time, making it easy to adapt as your business needs change. Start with Host Approved while you get comfortable with the platform, and switch to Instant Book when you are ready to scale!

Questions about which option is best for your specific venue? Our Host Support team is always here to help you optimize your settings.

Need Help?

If you have questions or run into any issues, visit our Help Center or contact the DropDesk support team directly.