WhatsApp rolls out Events Home Hub and RSVP support for non-account holders

WhatsApp is rolling out a massive update for its Events feature, making it much easier to organise parties, meetings, or casual get-togethers. The Meta-owned instant messaging platform announced multiple new additions in a blog post on Thursday, which will roll out to all users over the coming weeks.The new update finally allows you to invite friends who don't even have a WhatsApp account. To make managing all these plans easier, the app is also adding a dedicated section called Events Home.Here is a breakdown of what the new WhatsApp update brings to the table.Invite guests without an accountWhatsApp originally introduced the Events feature for Communities in May 2024, before eventually expanding it to all regular group chats. However, there was a catch: guests needed a WhatsApp account to RSVP. With the newest update, you can now create an event, add a custom cover photo, and simply share a web link with anyone. When someone who doesn't use WhatsApp opens the link, they can view the event details. They can then RSVP with three simple choices: Going, Maybe, or Not going. Guests just have to enter their name and mobile number to confirm their attendance.This works much like WhatsApp's Guest Calls feature, letting people respond without the hassle of downloading the app or signing up. The event creator will then be able to see the RSVP status of everyone invited.New Events Home Hub For organisers, keeping track of different event invites across multiple group chats can be confusing. To fix this, WhatsApp has introduced a centralised space called Events Home. Users can access it by opening WhatsApp Settings and tapping on Events.This hub acts as a one-stop shop, showing a consolidated list of all your upcoming and past events, both the ones you have created and the ones you are invited to. Inside the Events Home, organisers get additional tools.They can manage all the RSVPs, allow guests to bring a plus-one, and set custom reminders for the attendees. Interestingly, this new layout feels quite similar to Snapchat's Plans functionality, which was launched back in September to help its users manage gatherings without jumping between different chat pages.Privacy focusedWhatsApp has also ensured that user privacy remains intact with these new event links. If you invite guest users to a gathering, your own phone number is kept hidden from them.Furthermore, a non-WhatsApp user will only be able to see the exact venue address after they have successfully submitted their RSVP. This ensures that a randomly forwarded event link will not leak your event address to strangers on the internet.- Ends