How to Send Campaigns in a Guest's Local Timezone
The Staggered start option in the campaign scheduler lets you send mass offer and mass notification campaigns at each guest's local time. The platform splits delivery into time zone waves based on each guest's most recently visited loyalty check-in location. You do not need to create separate segments for each time zone.
How It Works
When you select Staggered start (based on recipient time zone) in the campaign scheduler, the platform splits your campaign into one delivery wave per time zone. Each wave sends at the equivalent local time for guests in that zone.
Supported time zones include:
- Eastern (America/New_York)
- Central (America/Chicago)
- Mountain (America/Denver)
- Pacific (America/Los_Angeles)
- Additional North American coverage
How the Platform Determines a Guest's Time Zone
The platform uses each guest's most recently visited loyalty check-in location to determine their time zone. This table describes how each scenario is handled:
| Guest scenario | What happens |
|---|---|
| Guest has a recent check-in location | Campaign delivers at the equivalent local time for that guest's time zone. |
| Guest has no check-in history | Guest receives the campaign at your selected Fallback Timezone. |
Note: Guests without check-in history are not excluded from the campaign. They receive it at the send time you set.
Enable Staggered Start in a Campaign
To use Staggered start in a mass offer or mass notification campaign:
- Navigate to Marketing Automation > Campaign Management in your left-hand navigation toolbar.
- Create or open a Mass Offer or Mass Notification campaign.
- Complete Step 1 - What and Step 2 - Whom as usual.
- On Step 3 - When, use the Frequency menu to select how often the campaign should run.
- Under Start Time, select Staggered start (based on recipient time zone).
- Click the Local Start Time field and choose the date and time you want guests to receive the campaign in their local time zone.
- Use the Fallback Timezone menu to select your brand's default timezone. Guests without a qualifying check-in location receive the campaign at the local time in this timezone.
- Click Schedule to save and launch your campaign.
Notes
- Not Compatible with Send Time Optimization (STO)
- Staggered start and Send Time Optimization (STO) cannot be used on the same campaign.
- To use STO, select Simultaneous global start and set the Frequency to Once.
- Not Available for Variable Points Campaigns
- Staggered start is not available for Variable Points campaigns. Select Simultaneous global start instead.
Campaign Processing Status
Campaigns using Staggered start remain in Processing status for a longer window than standard campaigns. This is expected. The platform splits delivery across multiple time zone waves instead of sending to all guests at once. Processing resolves once all waves complete.
If your campaign has been in Processing for more than 24 hours past your final scheduled send time, contact your PAR representative.