1851

As the Delta variant keeps COVID-19 a pressing concern, consumers are increasingly reluctant to commit to even short-term plans, and that’s starting to hurt restaurant franchises that rely on reservations to predict revenue and manage staffing.Reservations at top Bay Area restaurants are now 15% more likely to be canceled compared to a few weeks ago, according to a <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/Diners-are-bailing-on-Bay-Area-restaurant-16401785.php?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=covid-19-could-make-restaurant-reservations-a-thing-of-the-past-2716499" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">San Francisco Chronicle report</a> this week.While restaurants can easily navigate reservations canceled ahead of time, a reservation canceled at the last minute means a table can be left empty for a time that it could otherwise be making money. Worse: A reservation no-show puts a restaurant table in an extended holding pattern. After pandemic shutdowns put a hold on restaurant revenue, the last thing some franchises can afford right now is an inefficient system.Restaurant franchises are able to use this data to shift their operations toward a more walk-in-oriented approach, <a href="https://sf.eater.com/2021/8/23/22637950/reservations-san-francisco-restaurants-delta-variant?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=covid-19-could-make-restaurant-reservations-a-thing-of-the-past-2716499" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">as highlighted by Eater San Francisco</a>.&nbsp;For restaurant franchises, the good news is that adjusting to a walk-in model does not have to be an enormously disruptive pivot. For some brands, this might mean stepping away from reservations as much as possible. One relatively simple solution is to abandon reservations altogether, but that could be a dangerous overcorrection for restaurants that aren’t yet experiencing the strain of increasing cancelations. Restaurants may risk turning off previously loyal customers who appreciate reservations.Still, it may be a worthwhile consideration to limit reservations, especially after in-person dining took a lasting hit at the onset of the pandemic. COVID-19 has led some consumers to anticipate the unexpected, and as once-creative provisions become commonplace, consumer action is bound to favor new strategies.&nbsp;COVID aside, consumer preferences seem to be shifting away from reservations anyway, favoring instead the ease and convenience of <a href="https://1851franchise.com/wendys-ghost-kitchen-strategy-could-revolutionize-the-modern-franchise-model-2716443#editorials">ghost kitchen models</a> and <a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-qsr-brands-are-adjusting-to-a-post-pandemic-world-2716252">delivery services</a>.Exclusively dine-in restaurants are left to navigate an upended landscape, one that lacks a similar form of innovation or creative advances. Delivery and drive-thru service is a priority for consumers now more than ever, but dine-in restaurants have some opportunity for innovation as well. Consumers have already grown accustomed to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/21/qr-codes-have-replaced-restaurant-menus-industry-experts-say-it-isnt-a-fad.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=covid-19-could-make-restaurant-reservations-a-thing-of-the-past-2716499" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">QR codes taking the place of traditional menus</a>, and reservations could be the next big change.Reservation website <a href="https://www.opentable.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=covid-19-could-make-restaurant-reservations-a-thing-of-the-past-2716499" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">OpenTable</a> has an option for restaurants to charge a $25 fee for a canceled reservation or no-show. The incentive is in place to ensure each table in a restaurant is accounted for, and customers making a reservation must submit credit card information in order for their reservation to be finalized.This measure might scare away some customers, but it also ensures that some form of return is collected on every reservation, even the no-shows.

COVID-19 Could Make Restaurant Reservations a Thing of the Past

1851 Franchise

As no-shows and cancellations increase, restaurant franchises are prioritizing walk-in service.

covid-19-could-make-restaurant-reservations-a-thing-of-the-past

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Photo of HomeTeam inspector in red polo and khaki pants, walking by branded vehicle

Real Estate Today: Behind the Drywall: The Truth About Home Inspections

purpose-of-home-inspection

Dog Training Elite

Dog Training Elite Franchise - DTE - National Service Dog Month - 1851 Franchise

Celebrating Service Dogs: Why Proper Training Changes Lives — And How Dog Training Elite Is Leading the Way

dog-training-elite-national-service-dog-month

Senior Care Authority

How This Senior Care Authority Franchisee Turned Love for His Grandparents Into a Lifelong Calling

how-this-senior-care-authority-franchisee-turned-love-for-his-grandparents-into-a-lifelong-calling

Hometown News: Like Father, Like Son — Family-Run Inspection Business Blends Generations of Expertise and a Keen Eye for Detail

father-son-home-inspection-franchise-florida

KLA Schools

KLA Schools of Beachwalk Hosts Admissions Kick-Off Celebration

kla-schools-of-beachwalk-hosts-admissions-kick-off-celebration

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

AI Is Reshaping Franchising: $100 Billion Valuations and Hyper-Localized Advertising

ai-is-reshaping-franchising-100-billion-valuations-and-hyper-localized-advertising

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

COVID-19 Could Make Restaurant Reservations a Thing of the Past

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS