RSVP Rate
The percentage of invited guests who respond to an event invitation, either confirming or declining attendance.
Definition
RSVP rate measures invitation response: (responses received / invitations sent) × 100. It's a leading indicator of event interest and essential for capacity planning, catering, and budget management.
Healthy RSVP rates vary by event type. Exclusive executive dinners might expect 60-70%. Large conferences might see 30-40%. Free public events often get lower response rates but higher unconfirmed attendance.
Why It Matters
RSVP rates signal interest level. Low rates suggest the value proposition isn't compelling enough or invitations aren't reaching the right audience. They're a diagnostic tool for invitation strategy.
Planning depends on responses. Venue contracts, catering minimums, and staffing all require accurate headcounts. Low RSVP rates create planning uncertainty and potential waste.
Examples in Practice
A corporate event achieves 72% RSVP rate through personalized video invitations from executives, far exceeding the 40% typical for their industry events.
An event team notices 45% RSVP rate but only 65% actual attendance. They implement reminder sequences and incentives for early commitment, improving show rate to 85%.