A 6pm cancellation for an 8pm court: what next?

Two hours is too short for a campaign and enough time for a targeted recovery flow.

1. Identify players who fit that time

Prioritise people who already play near that time, match the sport/level and can realistically reach the club.

2. Do not blast the entire database

Start with the most likely segment and expand only if the slot remains at risk. Broad messaging creates noise and trains people to wait for deals.

3. Escalate incentives gradually

Try convenience and matching first, then points, future credit or a low-cost perk. Consider discount only if incremental margin remains positive.

4. Keep the booking official

The club should retain control of payment, booking and the customer relationship. Recovery should remove friction, not create a second operating system.

5. Record the outcome

Store the at-risk slot, audience, incentive and resulting booking. Otherwise the club knows a message was sent but not whether money was recovered.