New spaces, more voices: OpenTable’s new restaurant content hubs

OpenTable launched the Open for Business blog in 2015, with the goal of sharing best practices among hospitality professionals and tips for success in a notoriously challenging business. Since then, this platform has given space to interviews with leading chefs, how-tos from the kitchen to the dining floor, and insightful data from OpenTable’s unparalleled network of diners.

These important voices and learnings deserve better visibility, and can serve as conversations for a broader community. That’s why we plan to sunset Open for Business in the coming weeks in favor of new and expanded hubs that will connect diners with the restaurants they love, and restaurants with the tools they need.

While the Open for Business platform will be retired, many of the stories here will be redirected to live on in other formats, so readers can continue to benefit from contributors’ wisdom. And going forward, we invite you to visit these sites for creative ideas, actionable insights, tools, and more.

The OpenTable Blog has been reimagined with a new perspective and design, with comprehensive city guides and all the latest in food news for diners and restaurants alike. Check out Restaurant World for profiles of hospitality innovators, trend spotlights, and a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes of dining.

OpenTable for Restaurants is the go-to spot for all OpenTable product information, where you’ll find details about solutions for operations, marketing, and hospitality. The Resources section offers instruction and inspiration to help industry professionals succeed, including webinars with hospitality experts and how-to guides on everything from hiring to marketing. (Watch this space in the coming months, as we’ll be adding new content regularly.)

A heartfelt thanks to those who have read and contributed here over the past five years. Here’s to sharing more stories, amplifying voices, and fostering a restaurant community – there’s still plenty left to do. See you there!

Local Insights: Tap into industry trends and benchmark reporting to reopen with confidence

As cities reopen and people start to dine out again, it’s difficult to gauge what’s happening locally, whether other restaurants are open for outdoor dining, or if diners will even eat out. Keeping a pulse on all that’s happening in the industry and in your neighborhood also takes a lot of time that’s hard to find.

Restaurants can make more confident decisions if armed with the right information. So we pulled together data and insights on market-level reservations, diner sentiments about eating out, and neighborhood-level reservations.

In March, we started tracking the State of the Industry to show how restaurants across markets are handling the impact of COVID-19 at a macro level. Unsurprisingly, the data tells us that the restaurant community continues to face unprecedented challenges, but as reopening begins in markets, an increase in people eating out is also returning.

To help you understand more about diner demand and create a game plan for your own reopening, we connected with diners directly. In our July COVID-19 Diner Survey, people talk about feelings toward eating out again, plus how their habits have changed since the start of the pandemic. The survey revealed a willingness to pay and tip more during the pandemic, as well as the importance of safety precautions to ensure diners and staff are well-protected at your restaurant.

Since dining and reservations can vary drastically from one market to the next, specific and local data and insights are even more valuable. For example, are slower Tuesday nights typical in your neighborhood, or is your restaurant specifically seeing fewer covers?

Now OpenTable restaurants can tap into benchmark reporting to get an overview and compare with other local OpenTable restaurants in their community.

With a global restaurant base of thousands of restaurants, OpenTable is uniquely able to provide anonymized and aggregated information on cover, spend, and feedback data from local restaurants to provide insight about your neighborhood.

It’s never been easier to uncover gaps and successes in performance, then quickly navigate to OpenTable tools to take actions for improvement, with the assurance that your own restaurant’s performance and participation is also anonymous.

Benchmark reporting is available across all OpenTable plans. Through our Open Door program, we are waiving subscription and cover fees through 2020 for any restaurant that signs up for a new plan. To learn more about Benchmark reporting and our new plans, please fill out the form here.

Already an OpenTable customer? Access your benchmark reporting overview in OpenTable here.

Diner Insights: How people feel about eating out again

As restaurant operators navigate the coronavirus pandemic, they need to understand how diners are feeling and anticipate their changing behaviors. How confident do people feel about heading back to restaurants? What safety measures do they want restaurants to take? How have their dining and spending habits changed?

In July 2020, we asked over 3,300 diners on the OpenTable network across the U.S. and Canada to share feedback in our second COVID-19 Diner Survey, which follows the first questionnaire we fielded in April 2020, when the majority of diners were still sheltering in place. Now, as some markets have reopened and people venture out again, we’re sharing actionable, up-to-date insights, OpenTable data, and practical tips to guide your road to recovery. Get the full report.

Get more insights in the full report

Download the full report to get all of the diner insights from this July 2020 survey and metro-level stats, see OpenTable data, and receive practical tips for your restaurant.

How far in advance are people booking reservations?
How is diner spend changing?
What surcharges are people willing to pay?
How frequently are people ordering takeout and delivery?
What steps can restaurants take to make diners feel safe?

*Source: 3,393 people on the OpenTable network in the US and Canada responded to this diner survey between July 17, 2020 to July 29, 2020. “Pre-COVID” or “Before COVID” refers to the period prior to the announcement of governmental restrictions such as shelter in place, around March 2020.

OpenTable is here to help you get back on your feet and to make sure people rediscover their love of dining with you. Receive waived subscription fees and cover fees through the end of 2020. Learn more at https://restaurant.opentable.com.

Eating out after COVID-19: OpenTable diners weigh in [INFOGRAPHIC]

As the coronavirus pandemic shakes the restaurant world, restaurateurs everywhere are wondering how diners have shifted their habits and expectations due to the crisis. Are they cooking at home more or leaning on delivery services? What are they most looking forward to when restaurants reopen? Most importantly, how will they think about safety when dining out in the future?

We learned all of that and more in recent survey responses from nearly 10,000 OpenTable diners globally*, which we hope can help guide decision making as restaurants begin to open their dining rooms to the public. Check out the infographic below for insight on guests’ consumption habits, safety priorities, and hopes for the dining landscape to come – then read on for more takeaways.

COVID impact and how we’ll feel safe dining out

In April 2020, OpenTable surveyed nearly 10,000 diners in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia* to get a sense of how COVID was affecting how they interact with restaurants and what will make them feel good about sitting down in a dining room again.

Takeout is up

The proportion of people in the US ordering takeout once a week or more for dinner increased 72% in April compared to pre-COVID. Numbers are up globally, too – 59%.

In the UK, however, the proportion of people who ordered takeout once a week or more for dinner dropped 19% from pre-COVID days through April.

And delivery isn’t far behind

The proportion of people ordering delivery once a week or more went up 62% compared to pre-COVID in the US. (And though takeout was down in the UK, delivery was up 7%.) Globally, the proportion of respondents ordering takeout for dinner at least once a week increased 59% compared to routines pre-COVID.

That said, 25% more people order takeout one or more times per week than they do delivery.

More people are cooking at home

In the US, the proportion of folks who cook at home daily is up 17 percentage points from pre-COVID rates. Compare that number to the UK, where respondents reported a 21 percentage point increase.

Looking forward

When it comes to dining out, US respondents are most excited about visiting restaurants with the people they are currently social distancing with (55%).

They reported that they are most looking forward to enjoying the ambiance of the restaurant (14%), connecting with friends and family (13%), and supporting as many of their go-to restaurants as possible (13%). Bottom line: your guests miss you and want to help you succeed.

Weighing risks and safety measures

We asked survey respondents how much they feel various activities put them at risk of contracting the coronavirus, from shopping at a grocery store to having food delivered. In the US, respondents reported they feel that that curbside pickup is the least risky way of ordering food.

Interestingly, the majority of respondents in states that are reopening (Texas and Florida) say dining out at restaurants is “high risk” or “somewhat high risk,” while 8-10% believe it’s “low risk.” Fewer respondents in major metropolitan cities believe dining out is “low risk” – only 3% in New York City, 5% in Los Angeles, and 4% in San Francisco.

Safety measures diners plan to take

Almost all (90%) of survey respondents in the US agree that handwashing is an “extremely important” measure they need to take to protect themselves from COVID. They also reported that carrying hand sanitizer will be key as markets reopen.

Slightly more than 50% of respondents reported that pre-payments and mobile payments are “highly important” or “important” during the pandemic. This opinion drastically differs from the UK, where 72% of respondents believe that offering contactless payments is “highly important” or “extremely important.” Finally, 60% said it’s “extremely important” to visit places that aren’t crowded with other people.

Safety measures diners hope restaurants will take

Survey respondents in the US largely agree about what will make them feel safe eating out again: 72% said it’s “extremely important” to see strict cleaning policies.

Showing that staff are wearing protective equipment such as masks and using hand sanitizer was “extremely important” to 37% of respondents. In New York City and San Francisco, even more (over 40%) say this is “extremely important.”

However, 24% of people in the US said that checking diners’ temperatures before they enter a restaurant is “not important” or “slightly important.”

*9,915 people responded to the OpenTable diner survey through April 2020. “Pre-COVID” refers to the period prior to the announcement of governmental restrictions such as shelter in place, around March, 2020.

Visit our preparedness resource center for additional COVID-19 information.

UPDATE: Open Door Program extended to 2021, offering new features and price cuts

*Updated September 2020: Our Open Door program in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin America has been extended through March 31, 2021, so you can rebuild and reopen safely with us. Learn more below.

The restaurant industry is being hit hard by COVID-19 with millions of hospitality workers out of work. OpenTable is committed to supporting the restaurant community and we recognize the road to recovery will be long and difficult. That’s why we’re excited to announce two new initiatives to help restaurants successfully reopen their businesses.

First, an enhanced restaurant management platform

OpenTable’s software has always enabled restaurants to connect with diners to manage reservations, prepare for shifts, and maximize table availability. During the crisis, we have:

Created tools for restaurants to quickly adjust their books and notify diners
Updated our platform to showcase delivery and takeout services with partners like Caviar and UberEats
Promoted gift cards and waived gift card fees for our partner restaurants
Launched grocery pickup management tools for restaurants and stores operating under health guidelines

As we emerge from the crisis, restaurant needs will change as government restrictions and safety recommendations evolve. Locations that have never taken reservations may find themselves looking for ways to manage capacity. Others may need to adjust their floor plans to accommodate social distancing. OpenTable makes it easy for restaurants to adapt to both situations. Also, the Venga relationship management solution we acquired last year provides a complete view of loyal guests and their feedback. Finally, our digital marketing solutions let restaurants increase their exposure and smooth demand when they need it most.

Second, big price cuts for 2020

These advanced features are now paired with discounted pricing to reduce the reopening costs of our customers and to encourage new restaurants to join OpenTable. Beginning in May, restaurants that sign up for our “Open Door” pricing program will enjoy:

No subscription fees through 2020
No cover fees through 2020
Plus, we’re now introducing three subscription tiers designed to fit the needs of every location: Basic, Core and Pro.

Restaurants interested in the Open Door Program can receive follow-up information and first-access to participate here.

“We’re keen to do our part to bring back the restaurants we love,” said Andrea Johnston, COO of OpenTable. “We’re also eager to welcome more locations to OpenTable’s nearly 60,000-strong restaurant community. Finally, I strongly encourage everyone across the industry to ease financial terms where possible, including landlords, taxing authorities, and point-of-sale vendors.”

For help reopening your restaurant or to join the OpenTable platform, please visit support.opentable.com.

*Restaurants must subscribe to an annual OpenTable plan through 2021 to take advantage of this offer. Standard plan subscription and cover pricing begin January 1, 2021. Covers discount valid only off list price and excludes promoted inventory.