A seat map is a visual layout of your tables or seats that lets you assign guests to a specific spot before or during check-in. Seat maps work well for:

• Dinner shows and luaus with assigned table seating
• Boat or bus tours with specific vehicle seats
• Events or attractions with reserved seating sections
• Any experience where guests need to be assigned to a specific seat or table

With seat maps, you can:

• Visually see which seats are available, occupied, or blocked
• Assign parties to specific tables or seats
• Block seats for maintenance or VIP holds
• Print seat tickets for guest check-in

Setting up a seat map

Step 1: Access the seat map builder

1. Navigate to Settings → Seat Maps

1. Choose New Seat Map
2. Enter a name (e.g., "Main Dining Room", "Tour Bus A") and select at least one activity to use it. You can add or remove activities later
3. Choose Create Seat Map

Step 2: Add tables or seat groups

1. On the Groups tab, choose + Add Group
2. Configure the group's name, shape, number of seats, and zone (optional)
3. Drag the group to position it on the canvas

Step 3: Add zones (optional)

Zones help organize your seating into logical sections and color-code them on the canvas:

1. Switch to the Zones tab and choose + Add Zone
2. Enter a zone name (e.g., "VIP", "Premium", "General") and pick a color
3. Repeat for additional zones, then assign groups to a zone from the Groups tab

Step 4: Add labels (optional)

Labels are text markers (not seats) that help staff navigate the floor plan:

1. Switch to the Labels tab and choose + Add Label
2. Enter text (e.g., "Stage", "Exit", "Bar", "Restroom")
3. Drag to position on the canvas

Step 5: Save and publish

1. Choose Save as Draft to keep working on the layout later
2. When ready, select Publish to make the seat map available for use
3. Only published seat maps can be connected to activities

You also can't delete a seat map that's published, or one that's ever had a seat assigned on it. Use Archive instead in either case. See Troubleshooting seat maps if a seat map's Delete option is greyed out.

Tips for seat map design

• Use consistent naming: Number tables sequentially (T1, T2, T3) for easy reference
• Create zones for pricing tiers: Group VIP, Premium, and Standard sections
• Leave space between groups: Makes the visual layout easier to read
• Match your physical layout: Arrange tables as they appear in your actual venue

Connecting a seat map to an activity

You pick the activities from inside the seat map itself, not from the activity's own settings:

1. Open the seat map (draft or published) and select the pencil icon next to its name
2. In Select Activities, add or remove the activities that should use this seat map
3. Optionally set a custom Group Label and Seat Label (e.g. "Boat" / "Position" instead of the defaults "Table" / "Seats"). These print on seat tickets
4. Choose Save Changes

At least one activity is required. You can't save a seat map with no activities attached, and one seat map can be shared across multiple activities that use the same physical space.

Seat maps apply to bookings made through your storefront or entered manually — they aren't assigned automatically for OTA/reseller (Viator, GetYourGuide, and similar) bookings. Those bookings still show up in the Manifest and can be seated manually like any other; if an OTA booking is cancelled or rebooked, its seat is automatically freed.

Example uses

• Build a seat map for a sunset dinner cruise with a "VIP" zone at the bow and a "Standard" zone toward the stern
• Create a luau seat map with round tables named T1–T12 and a "Stage" label so staff know which way tables face
• Add a "Wheelchair Accessible" zone so front-of-house staff can see accessible seating at a glance
• Clone a published seat map to rearrange tables for a private event, then reconnect it to that one-off activity

FAQ

Next, learn how to assign guests to seats from the Manifest once your seat map is connected to an activity.