What should I ask about an inn’s wedding and event bookings?
Ask for a list of every booked wedding and event, with dates, deposits received, what was promised and whom to contact. Find out whether the inn’s reputation for events rests on the current owner or on a team. Those bookings become your commitments.
Request the full booking calendar and the signed agreements. Check what each couple or group was promised: rooms, menus, décor, exclusive use, set prices, cancellation terms. Ask how much money has been taken in advance and where it is held, since deposits are an obligation you may have to honour.
Then ask about the people behind the events. Who runs the planning, the kitchen and the day-of service? If the current owner is the face of the events side, ask how that will be handled in a handover. Contact with a few past clients or local vendors can show how the inn is regarded.
Finally, review how bookings come in and how far ahead they are made. Look at what happens if you change a venue policy. Your lawyer can explain how the agreements pass to you. Plan your first events season carefully so existing clients feel looked after. Ask how many events the inn can hold at once without disrupting guests staying in the rooms, and how neighbours have responded to noise. Event business that clashes with regular guests can limit growth.
Key takeaways
- List all booked events with deposits and written promises.
- Find out who actually delivers the events day to day.
- Ask your lawyer how deposits and agreements pass to a buyer.
- Ask how events fit alongside regular room guests and neighbours.
Related reading
12 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Due diligence
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- GuideBanquet hall and event venue due diligence
Buying
- Expert answerWhat happens to wedding bookings when a florist is sold?
- Expert answerHow do I check a concession business’s event bookings before buying?
- Expert answerHow do I take over a motel’s property management software and booking calendar?
- GuideBuying a banquet hall and event venue in Canada
- Expert answerDo a caterer’s event staff work as contractors or employees when I buy?
- Expert answerWhat happens to a catering company’s booked events when it is sold?
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentAfter buying a business, what is the next step?
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