Although there are less than 10 per cent of restaurants in the UK using an online booking system, the number of diners reserving a table is growing at more than double the rate of last year.
Figures released by online restaurant marketing expert Livebookings, shows that the number of restaurants accepting reservations via online booking systems for the first time has risen by 90 per cent since last summer, while those now taking bookings from their own website have increased by 70 per cent.
Livebookings has announced a year on year growth of 107 per cent, and, with 3.1 diners per reservation, has already surpassed the two million covers mark for this year.
David Norris, chief operating officer for Livebookings, said an online bookings system can help managers maximise their restaurant’s potential.
“Every restaurant wants to boost bookings as well as offer fantastic food and service,” he said. “A high number of premium restaurants are now offering online reservations and special offer deals to diners via their websites. Customers don’t want to be bombarded with deal after deal, but at the same time, even the most well-known restaurants can benefit. In the past they may never have considered running offers, but are now seeing significant returns on those that they are running.”
Livebookings suggests that restaurants capture customer details given during online reservations to build a database of diners who can then be targeted through email campaigns.