How INNPLAY Scaled Tournament Housing with EventPipe

When Erica Lasky founded INNPLAY, she knew one thing for sure: there was a better way to handle tournament housing. As a startup with a lean team, INNPLAY set out to support youth & amateur sports tournaments with a smarter, more service-focused approach to group hotel bookings. Her first step was partnering with the right technology platform, recognizing that she couldn’t scale the business while juggling spreadsheets, manually managing room blocks, hotel contracts, and guest reservations. Automating these processes was essential for growth and sustainability.

“The complexities of coordinating room blocks, handling hotel contracts, and tracking reservations would be particularly taxing for a small team,” Erica explained.

Erica, realizing that scaling the business would require more than hustle. It would require a platform built specifically to handle the complexities of event housing, one that could move as fast as her clients needed without adding layers of manual work or tech headaches. The team didn’t have time for steep learning curves or custom development. What they needed was a solution that just worked, right out of the box.

The Turning Point: What INNPLAY Was Looking For

The team prioritized five key things in a new solution:

1. A platform that required minimal training and no coding skills, enabling quick adoption.
2. Tools to manage the entire event lifecycle, from RFP creation to reservation tracking.
3. Access to up-to-date data on reservations, room blocks, and financials to make informed decisions.
4. The ability to create branded booking portals to enhance the client experience.
5. Features that allow for immediate income realization and additional revenue streams.

These tools were critical to staying competitive and delivering on promises.

Finding EventPipe: Real Results From Day One

Once Erica and the INNPLAY team adopted EventPipe, the impact was immediate. From launching events in minutes to gaining real-time visibility into bookings, the platform helped transform their approach to tournament housing. But what really stood out was how these improvements translated into momentum, confidence, and growth, fast.

1. Speed That Matters

The real breakthrough came when INNPLAY secured a new tournament operator. That meant 14 events, each needing its own customized booking experience, with the first starting in three weeks. With EventPipe and the support of its team, Erica and her staff got up and running fast.

“Their collaboration was instrumental in securing a new tournament with event dates beginning in just three weeks,” she said. “Live Hotel Inventory was a game-changer for us. It enabled the rapid deployment of customized booking sites... within hours.”

What would have been a scramble became a success story. Booking links went live, no services were interrupted, and INNPLAY delivered on time and on brand.

2. A Platform That Grows With You

INNPLAY’s needs didn’t stop with speed. They needed structure and visibility to scale. That’s where tools like PipeSights came in.

“Real-time data on reservations, room blocks, and financials empowered us to make informed decisions and optimize our operations,” Erica said.

EventPipe also provided the opportunity to create branded, customizable booking portals that elevated the customer experience—something that helped INNPLAY stand out in a competitive space.

“EventPipe has truly transformed the way INNPLAY manages hotel group bookings and event housing. As a startup, we needed a platform that was not only efficient but also scalable, and EventPipe delivered on both fronts.”

3. More Than a Tool, a Partner

For Erica, the value of EventPipe extended beyond the dashboard.

“The EventPipe team has been incredibly supportive,” she said.  “They expedited the Live Hotel Inventory setup process and provided training, ensuring we were fully prepared to meet our client's needs.”

In a space where technology alone isn’t enough, having a collaborative and responsive partner made a real difference. It meant Erica could move faster, say yes to more opportunities, and build a stronger reputation in the market.

In Conclusion: INNPLAY Is Now Built for the Road Ahead

As INNPLAY looks to the future, Erica sees EventPipe not just as a vendor but as a strategic ally.

“EventPipe's recent advancements, such as the introduction of Live Hotel Inventory, Booking Protection, and PipeSights, demonstrate their proactive approach,” she said. “Aligning with a company that’s as forward-thinking as EventPipe gives us confidence in our shared future.”

That forward momentum matters. It means INNPLAY can continue to expand, serve more events, and improve the experience for every organizer and attendee they work with.

Want to learn more about how EventPipe could help your business streamline event housing management and grow your housing company? Schedule a demo today to see the EventPipe platform in action.