Bars and pubs face new challenges as they prepare to welcome back patrons in a COVID-19 world. Carefully managing crowds, minimising queues and communicating safety measures are the new norm.
To help, OpenTable, the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations and part of Booking Holdings Inc, is making its reservation technology available to all drink-focused establishments.
As venues reopen, OpenTable users can discover and book a great spot to enjoy a drink. Guests can also join a virtual waitlist and receive phone alerts when their reservation is ready.
“Bars and pubs must operate differently when they reopen. OpenTable is here to help with software that enables them to accept reservations, manage capacity, attract guests, and maximisze revenues,” said Andrea Johnston, COO of OpenTable. “When the time comes, people will be able to visit their favourite places to socialise without waiting in lines or worrying about crowds.”
While select bars and pubs offering food have previously been on the platform, OpenTable is now available to all drinking establishments globally. The Heads + Tails in West Hampstead, and rooftop bar The Nest at Treehouse Hotel London in Marylebone are among the first OpenTable partners to enable reservations in preparation for reopening in London.
Will Partridge, owner of Heads + Tails, said, “When we are able to reopen, we will be facing unprecedented social distancing requirements and capacity limitations. The ability to effectively manage our table bookings system will help us hugely with coordinating the number of people coming through our doors and enable us to keep our guests as safe as possible.”
Max Cuccaru, Food & Beverage Director for Treehouse Hotel London, said, “As we plan our reopening, we are looking at all the ways we can keep our guests safe and manage how many people we can accommodate. With OpenTable we are not only able to take reservations, but also give guests the opportunity to add themselves to a waitlist and receive alerts when we are able to welcome them in.”
OpenTable will also extend its Open Door program pricing, announced last month, which includes waived fees and discounted pricing, to bars and pubs (terms and conditions apply).