Event cancellation

[jamesholcomb]

Hi all, new to hi.events....I'm curious why the platform does not support canceling an event as a first class domain event/action.

Is the suggested workaround to update the title to 'CANCELED - ... ' halt ticket sales and initiate refunds?

I asked AI to put together a perspective to outline the scope.

Is this something on the slate?

Canceling a ticketed event involves coordinated actions by both organizers and attendees to ensure clarity, minimize financial disruption, and preserve reputations. Here is a high-level overview of the typical flow and the key considerations for both perspectives.

Organizer Perspective
Decision & Internal Communication: Organizers must first confirm cancellation is the only option, ensuring all internal stakeholders (staff, sponsors, vendors) are promptly informed before any public announcement.​

Stop Sales: As soon as the cancellation decision is finalized, halt ticket sales immediately across all channels to prevent further purchases and reduce complexity in refund processing.​

Notify Attendees: Communicate the cancellation to attendees using multiple channels such as email, social media, and the event website. Ideally, give as much advance notice as possible and provide clear, empathetic messaging with reasons for the cancellation, if appropriate.​

Refunds or Alternatives: Trigger the refund process per the ticketing platform’s policies. Full or partial refunds are usually made to the original payment method, and sometimes attendees are offered credits or rollovers to future events. Organizers may need to cover platform fees, and sometimes must pay these before refunds process.​

Customer Support: Prepare to address attendee inquiries and manage the high volume of questions or refund requests through dedicated support channels.​

Reputation Management: Consider post-cancellation communication, such as satisfaction surveys or incentive offers, to maintain goodwill and gather feedback for future improvement.​

Update Other Channels: Publicly update the event status and remove or revise all promotional materials across web pages, registration forms, and social platforms.​

Attendee Perspective
Notification: Attendees are informed (usually via email or the event website) that the event has been canceled, with guidance on next steps for refunds or credits.​

Refund Process: Most attendees receive refunds automatically to their original payment method unless otherwise stated. Timing depends on the platform and method of payment; sometimes, tickets may be valid for a rescheduled event instead.​

Support and Appeals: Attendees needing personalized support or having concerns about refunds can contact the organizer or ticketing company via provided support channels. If the response is unsatisfactory, direct disputes or chargebacks with the payment provider are also possible.​

Documentation: For travel- or time-sensitive events, attendees may need documentation of the cancellation for reimbursement or insurance claims, particularly if they’ve incurred travel costs.​

Policy and Insurance Context
Refund Policies: These vary by organizer and are often stated at purchase. Complete cancellation typically means full refund, but force majeure clauses (e.g., for weather) or ticket insurance can modify attendees’ compensation rights.​

Event Insurance: Organizers frequently purchase cancellation insurance to offset unrecoverable costs, but policy terms dictate what’s covered, so some attendee losses may remain.​

In summary, the process aims to be prompt, transparent, and customer-focused, balancing legal, financial, and reputational factors for all parties involved