OpenPlace
How OpenPlace works
One person can't make it. Someone else gets the chance to.
- Available place
- Listed
- Discovered
- Joined
Spare place
Someone cancelled?
Don't let the place go to waste.
List the place
Tell us about the event, when it is, where it is and what the place includes.
Set your price
Choose whether the place is free or set a price to help recover some of what you've already spent. Listing never guarantees you'll get all of it back.
Choose your guest
Depending on the event, you can either accept a suitable request automatically or review requests yourself.
Fill the place
Your new guest gets the information they need and joins your event.
Looking for something
Looking for somewhere to go?
You might find yourself somewhere you were never originally invited.
Discover
Browse places that have opened up at events and experiences near you.
Find something interesting
Explore the event, host, location, date and what's included.
Request a place
Depending on the event, either request to join or book the available place.
You're in
Once confirmed, you'll receive everything you need to attend.
Here's the idea
One cancellation. One listing. One unexpected guest.
Sarah invites 80 people to her wedding.
One week before the wedding, Uncle Dave can't make it.
His place has already been paid for.
Sarah lists the place on OpenPlace.
James sees it and thinks it sounds amazing.
James requests the place.
Sarah accepts.
James gets to experience a wedding he was never originally invited to.
Sarah doesn't have an empty seat.
What happens once you're in?
Confirmation unlocks the details you need — not before. Exact addresses stay private until your place is confirmed, so venue information isn't shared with everyone browsing.
Confirmed
Your place is secured. The listing moves from a maybe to a real plan.
Event details
You get the fuller picture — timing, what's included, and what to expect — once you're in.
Messaging
Where messaging is available, you can ask the host questions through OpenPlace before you go.
Attend
Show up, take the place, and enjoy an experience you weren't originally invited to.
Review
After you've attended, you can leave a review when you're eligible — so the next person has real signal.
Meeting people you don't know?
That's kind of the point. But it should still feel safe.
Identity verification
Listing or requesting a place requires a verified identity. We keep your verified status — not your ID documents on your profile.
Profiles
Hosts and guests show up as people: name, photo, and public context that helps a place feel like an invitation.
Host & guest info
Before you request, you can see the host, the occasion, what's included, and approximate location — never who cancelled.
Reviews
Ratings come from people who actually attended. When a host has reviews, you can see them before you ask for a place.
Messaging
Questions about a place go through OpenPlace messages once you've applied or booked — keep the conversation where it belongs.
Reporting & blocking
Report a listing or person when something feels off. Blocking stops further applications and messaging between you.
Privacy controls
Hosts choose how discoverable a listing is and how precise the public location appears before confirmation.
Questions people ask
Straight answers about how OpenPlace actually works.
Is OpenPlace a ticket resale platform?
No. OpenPlace is for unused places at real events — usually because someone cancelled — not for flipping tickets.
Why would someone list a place?
So an empty seat doesn't go to waste. Hosts can fill the place, meet someone new, and optionally set a price to help recover some of what they've already spent — never with a promise of full cost recovery.
Can I list a wedding?
Yes. Weddings are one of the occasions you can list — along with dinners, parties, boat trips, and more.
Can I join an event if I don't know anyone?
That's kind of the point. You discover a place that opened up and request to join — you don't need to know the host beforehand.
How do hosts choose who joins?
Hosts can review requests themselves or set the place to accept a suitable request automatically, depending on how they list it.
Can I request multiple places?
Yes — when a listing has more than one spare place, you can request more than one, subject to what's still available.
What happens if the host cancels?
The listing and related bookings are cancelled and you'll be notified. Refunds for paid places are handled through OpenPlace's payment flow — reach out via Help if something looks wrong.
What happens if I cancel?
You can cancel before the event starts (and before check-in). That frees the place so someone else can take it. For paid places, refunds follow OpenPlace's payment handling — don't assume an instant automatic refund.
How does payment work?
Free places stay free. On paid places, you pay the price shown on the listing. OpenPlace takes a platform fee; the host chooses whether guests pay it on top or it comes from their payout. Stripe card processing always comes from what the host receives.
Will I see the exact address?
Not at first. Public listings show an approximate area. The exact address is shared with you once your place is confirmed — so private venue details aren't broadcast early.
Do I need an account?
You can browse publicly. To list or request a place, you'll need an account and a verified identity.
Can I list a free place?
Yes. Free places stay free — OpenPlace doesn't charge a platform fee on free listings.
What kinds of events can be listed?
Weddings, birthdays, dinners, parties, boat trips, sporting events, concerts or shows, experiences, corporate events, and other real-world occasions with a spare place.
