The festive season is just around the corner. For restaurants, that means packed dining rooms, a surge in demand, and the potential for record-breaking revenue. But with these opportunities come unique challenges that can test even the most seasoned teams.
This year, set your restaurant up for its most successful season yet with OpenTable. Ease the pressure on your front-of-house staff while managing guest expectations and boosting your bottom line.
Online waitlists are a smarter way to manage the Christmas rush
The Christmas rush often means longer wait times and crowded host stands. Give your guests a better waiting experience during the festive season while simultaneously reducing congestion in your restaurant with online waitlists.
How an online waitlist works: When your restaurant is full, guests can add themselves to a digital waitlist through the OpenTable app or your restaurant’s profile page. They’ll receive real-time updates on their place in line and an alert when their table is ready. It means they can wait wherever they’re most comfortable, whether that’s at your bar, exploring nearby shops, or relaxing at home.
Benefits for your restaurant:
- Reduce stress on host staff by automating the waitlist process
- Minimise crowds in your entryway or bar area
- Provide a better guest experience with transparent wait times
- Capture more walk-in business by making it easy for guests to join the waitlist
Pro tip: Use the waitlist feature along with OpenTable’s reservation system to keep your dining room full all night. If no-shows or last-minute cancellations come up, you can easily fill those seats with eager guests.
Learn more about online waitlists
Say goodbye to festive no-shows with deposits and credit card holds
During the busy festive season, every table counts. No-shows and last-minute cancellations can significantly impact your revenue. Protect your business and make sure guests honor their reservations by requiring deposits or credit card holds for bookings.
How they work: When guests make a reservation, they must provide a credit card number or pay a small deposit. If they fail to show up or cancel within your specified timeframe, you can charge a fee to recoup some of the lost revenue.
Benefits for your restaurant:
- Reduce no-show rates
- Cover costs from last-minute cancellations
- Encourage guests to honor their reservations or give notice if plans change
- Protect your revenue during peak seasons
Pro tip: Clearly communicate your booking policies on your reservation page and in confirmation emails. Be sure to explain any exceptions or special considerations for larger parties or Christmas and end of year events.
Learn more about deposits and credit card holds
Maximise your floor plan for increased Christmas revenue with Smart Assign
Every square foot of your dining room is valuable real estate during the festive period. Make the most of your space with Smart Assign, a feature that automatically optimises your floor plan to fit in more guests and keep things running smoothly.
How Smart Assign works: Smart Assign analyses your restaurant’s layout, table inventory, and incoming reservations. It then suggests the most efficient table assignments to maximise covers. Smart Assign continuously rearranges reservations when things change, like when party sizes get bigger or guests cancel.
Benefits for your restaurant:
- Increase revenue by seating more guests without overbooking
- Improve turn times by optimising table assignments
- Reduce the cognitive load on hosts and managers
- Maintain a balanced workload for servers
Pro tip: You have full control over your table assignments. Let staff make manual adjustments when you need to accommodate special requests or assign and lock tables assigned to regulars or VIPs.
Bring in guests and drive revenue with festive season Experiences
Christmas is all about creating memorable moments. With OpenTable Experiences, it’s easier than ever to package and promote special festive themed menus, events, or dining options to attract guests and help increase revenue. Give guests more ways to enjoy your restaurant by offering a full range of Experiences, including all-new ticketed events that aren’t tied to tables.
Plus, compared to all reservations, no-show rates for Experiences are significantly lower with parties for pre-paid Experiences no-showing less than 3% of the time, and parties for non-prepaid Experiences no-showing less than 5% of the time.*
How Experiences work: Create unique festive Experiences such as New Year’s Eve tasting menus, a festive brunch, or themed cocktail class. Guests can book and pay for these special offerings in advance or at your restaurant—it’s up to you.
Benefits for your restaurant:
- Generate upfront revenue and improve cash flow
- Showcase your restaurant’s festive offerings to a wider audience
- Reduce no-shows with pre-paid bookings
- Streamline service by knowing what guests have ordered in advance
Pro tip: Offer flexible per person or per party pricing options so guests can choose the price that’s right for them. If you want to do more, you can use Experiences to create tiered offerings that appeal to different guest preferences and budgets. For example, offer both a premium champagne New Year’s Eve dinner and a more casual celebration with a midnight toast.
Pre-shift reports help you stay informed and prepared for service
It’s important to stay informed during the busy festive season, and OpenTable’s pre-shift reports deliver need-to-know information directly to your inbox. This way, you and your team can be fully prepared for each service.
How Pre-shift reports work: Before every shift, you’ll get an email with a rundown of your upcoming reservations, including total covers and revenue projections, guests’ special requests and dietary restrictions, and reservation notes and guest history.
Benefits for your restaurant:
- Provide better service by anticipating guest needs
- Prepare kitchen and bar for expected volume
- Brief staff on VIPs and returning guests
- Spot potential issues or special requests in advance
Pro tip: Use the insights from pre-shift reports to personalise the dining experience for returning guests. A simple “Welcome back! Would you like to start with the Cabernet you enjoyed last time?” can make a lasting impression.
A holistic approach to Christmas success
While each of these features is impactful on its own, the real magic happens when you use them together. Here’s an example of how they might work together during a busy period.
Your online waitlist is filling up as guests arrive for dinner. Smart Assign is working behind the scenes to optimise table assignments and maximise your seating capacity.
As you review the pre-shift report, you notice a VIP guest who visited last Christmas season is returning. You make a note to greet them personally and have the kitchen prepare their favorite entrée as a welcome gift.
A last-minute cancellation comes in for a large party, but thanks to your deposit policy you’re able to recoup some of the potential lost revenue. You quickly fill the tables with a combination of waitlist guests and a walk-in party.
Throughout the night, guests arrive for your special festive Experience—a five-course tasting menu with wine pairings. With pre-paid reservations and detailed dietary information, your kitchen and service staff execute flawlessly.
As the evening winds down, you check your numbers and see that you’ve not only maximised covers but also significantly increased per-guest spending thanks to your festive Experiences and efficient table management.
Making the most of OpenTable’s features lets you transform what could have been a stressful festive season into a smooth, profitable service that delights both your staff and your guests.
Prepare now for Christmas rush success
The key to a successful season is preparation. Start implementing these features and strategies now so you’re ready for the rush. Here are a few final tips to get you started:
- Train your staff on new features like online waitlists and Smart Assign well before the busy season hits.
- Create and promote your festive Experiences early to capture advance bookings.
- Communicate any new policies (like deposits) clearly to your guests through all available channels.
- Use data from previous festive seasons to inform your strategy and set realistic goals.
- Don’t forget to take care of your team—consider implementing staff appreciation initiatives to keep morale high during this demanding time.
OpenTable’s features are designed to help you increase revenue, run services like clockwork, and make smarter decisions.
Winning the festive season
Don’t let the Christmas rush overwhelm you this year. With the right preparation and tools at your fingertips, you can turn the busiest time of the year into your most profitable and smoothest-running season yet. Here’s to your most successful festive season ever.
*OpenTable reservation and no-show data (US, Jan to Sept 2024)
