3 Ways Westminster Avoided Long Lines and Sold Out Experiences With Acuity
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has been setting the standard for excellence for 150 years. In 2026, the Club brought that same standard to a brand-new fan experience: the Sensation Stage. Here’s a tactical look at how Westminster used Acuity Scheduling to keep lines short, sessions full, and the experience running smoothly from start to Best in Show.
When thousands of dog lovers, handlers, and junior competitors descend on multiple venues over just a few days, long lines are almost guaranteed. Unless you plan for them.
For the first-ever Sensation Stage, The Westminster Kennel Club needed a way to offer bookable, in-demand experiences, without slowing guests down or overwhelming their small internal team.
Here’s how they did it.
1. They let attendees book ahead, not line up
Instead of asking fans to show up early and hope for a spot, Westminster made Sensation Stage sessions bookable in advance using Acuity Scheduling.
From agility intros to dog grooming tips and expert-led Q&As, attendees could reserve their spot online before ever stepping onto the show floor. Group sessions and one-on-one appointments were clearly displayed with real-time availability, so guests knew exactly what they were signing up for.
The result: fewer crowds hovering, no guessing, and a steady flow of attendees arriving when and where they needed to be.
Why it worked:
Real-time availability eliminated overbooking
Group scheduling made it easy to manage capacity limits
Advance registration replaced physical lines with confirmed bookings
2. They controlled capacity down to the last detail
Not every experience was created equal, and Westminster didn’t treat them that way.
Some sessions had unlimited capacity. Others were capped at eight participants or limited to a set number of appointments per day. With Acuity, Westminster controlled appointment types, durations, and capacity rules across venues.
That meant junior handler run-throughs, canine massage sessions, and expert panels all ran effortlessly, without manual oversight or day-of scrambling.
Why it worked:
Appointment-level scheduling limits prevented bottlenecks
Multi-location scheduling kept venues aligned
Staff could manage complex logistics from a single system
3. They automated communication so no one missed a moment
When attendees are bouncing between rings, stages, and show floors, reminders are a must-have.
Westminster used automated email and SMS notifications to keep registrants informed every step of the way, from confirmation to last-minute schedule changes. Attendees received clear instructions and timing reminders without staff needing to send a single manual message.
They also collected key details in advance, including contact information, dog details, and even audience questions to seed engaging Q&As.
Why it worked:
Automated reminders reduced no-shows
Intake forms replaced clipboards and day-of questions
A polished, on-brand experience matched Westminster’s legacy
The takeaway
With a small team managing a massive, multi-day event, Westminster needed a scheduling system that could handle the heavy lifting.
By using Acuity Scheduling to manage bookings, capacity, payments, and communication, they offered experiences without long lines and set a new standard for fan engagement at one of the world’s most iconic dog shows.
“Managing a large and complex event requires tools we can depend on. Having a scheduling system that operates seamlessly and without constant hands-on oversight was essential to making the Sensation Stage a success.”
Want to try these tools for yourself? See how they work for your business with a free trial. Then take 20% off your first plan for a limited time with code WKC20. This offer ends February 28, 2026. [View terms.]
