Gouqi:

How OpenTable’s powerful marketing tools and software fuelled fine dining Chinese restaurant launch in London

Fast facts

Restaurant name: Gouqi
Type of restaurant: Independent
Location: London
Year founded: 2023

Gouqi (pronounced go-ji) is a fine dining Chinese restaurant by seven-time MICHELIN Star Chef, Chee Hwee Tong. Known for its “legendary Peking duck”, the Westminster-based restaurant is well situated for locals and tourists alike near Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. The restaurant has developed a strong following since hitting London’s dining scene in February 2023, with OpenTable helping to fill seats throughout the week.

Guiding Gouqi’s operations is Alan Tang, a Restaurant Director with a wealth of experience from MICHELIN Star establishments, including renowned hotel restaurants Hakkasan, Four Seasons, Imperial Treasure and Shangri-La The Shard.

“OpenTable is very efficient, and that’s what I like about it. I need a product that is quick and can adapt to business requirements.

Alan knows precisely what it takes to deliver the consistent perfection luxury diners want. He says OpenTable has been instrumental in helping establish Gouqi in the competitive London market, explaining; “being a new opening, we constantly need to be flexible and make changes throughout the day… because of OpenTable, I’m able to do that.” He continues, “I find [that] OpenTable is very efficient, and that’s what I like about it. I need a product that is quick and can adapt to business requirements.”

Fast facts

Restaurant name: Gouqi
Type of restaurant: Independent
Location: London
Year founded: 2023

Gouqi (pronounced go-ji) is a fine dining Chinese restaurant by seven-time MICHELIN Star Chef, Chee Hwee Tong. Known for its “legendary Peking duck”, the Westminster-based restaurant is well situated for locals and tourists alike near Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. The restaurant has developed a strong following since hitting London’s dining scene in February 2023, with OpenTable helping to fill seats throughout the week.

Guiding Gouqi’s operations is Alan Tang, a Restaurant Director with a wealth of experience from MICHELIN Star establishments, including renowned hotel restaurants Hakkasan, Four Seasons, Imperial Treasure and Shangri-La The Shard.

“OpenTable is very efficient, and that’s what I like about it. I need a product that is quick and can adapt to business requirements.

Alan knows precisely what it takes to deliver the consistent perfection luxury diners want. He says OpenTable has been instrumental in helping establish Gouqi in the competitive London market, explaining; “being a new opening, we constantly need to be flexible and make changes throughout the day… because of OpenTable, I’m able to do that.” He continues, “I find [that] OpenTable is very efficient, and that’s what I like about it. I need a product that is quick and can adapt to business requirements.”

Powerful marketing features that maximise covers & attract new diners

A key aspect of OpenTable for Alan is the restaurant management software’s marketing features. He explains that “we use all of the marketing features OpenTable has to offer.” On top of the leading a massive diner network, OpenTable offers a standout product – Boost – where campaigns are set up to promote specific meal periods on the OpenTable marketplace. “You can use this feature to push more bookings because it pushes your restaurant to the top of search results”, Alan continues. Thanks to these promoted search features, Gouqi has welcomed 2,000 first-time diners over the last year, including over 900 out-of-town covers and nearly 300 last-minute bookings.

“OpenTable is light-years ahead of all the other booking platforms.”

Alan Tang, Restaurant Director
Gouqi

Seamless restaurant reservation software that meets a seasoned restaurateur’s needs

POS integration

Along with marketing campaigns and trend reports that help Alan maintain consistent booking levels month-to-month, he also loves the flexibility OpenTable’s restaurant management software provides. “What I really like about OpenTable is the layout, the floor plan and how the software integrates with other systems like Tevalis, our point-of-sale (POS).”

By integrating their POS with OpenTable, the Gouqi team closely monitors guest progress throughout their meal and ensures exceptional service. “It also updates on the booking platform at every journey of their dining experience, so you can see if guests have finished starters, on main courses, desserts or have paid the bill.”

Get to know your guests

The front of house staff can also review detailed guest notes provided in OpenTable, which allows the team to tailor the guest experience. “We get guests who have visited us over 20 times in just 11 months of opening, so it’s very useful to see their favourite dishes – whether they’re ordering the same items over several visits or trying something different”.

Mobile-first approach

Alan also takes a mobile-first approach, something else OpenTable enables. He says, “I use OpenTable on my mobile while I’m roaming around the restaurant, so I can see who is sitting where.” This real-time visibility into seating arrangements enhances his ability to adapt on the fly and meet the needs of every diner as they arise.

Thanks to the efficiency, functionality and consistent results OpenTable delivers, Alan has become a natural advocate of the restaurant management software. “I recommended OpenTable to a friend of mine. I sold it to him instantly by telling him what the marketing features are like, the user-friendliness of the software and the integrations. For me, OpenTable is light-years ahead of all the other booking platforms.” In simple terms, Alan says,

“… for anyone who’s considering using OpenTable, just go for it!”

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