Table of Contents
1. Updating Restaurant Availability
2. Offer take-out options
3. Proactive guest communication
Lower restaurant capacity
To limit the capacity of your restaurant, we recommend using recurring start time blocks to control which
tables are available and when, instead of having to make updates to the shifts or access rules.
To configure: Reservations > More > Blocks
Create a start time block to control and limit the
available time slots on a specific table or tables.
Select the times from the dropdown that you want
the table to be blocked for, leaving the bookable
times unchecked.
*Note: Due to the high rates of cancellations, you may need to
block less inventory to still achieve the desired capacity rate.
1. Updating restaurant availability
Turn-off reservations
In the unfortunate situation of having to completely close your restaurant for in-person dining, we
recommend using recurring blocks.
To configure: Reservations > More > Blocks
Set the block to occur on “All Tables” for “All
times” and to repeat within a custom range.
You can set the end date, or set it to “indefinite.”
Please note: setting it to “indefinite” will prevent
all guests from creating future reservations at
any point in the future.
1. Updating restaurant availability
Update your Reservation Widget
You can use your Reservation Widget to alert guests about changes to operations in your business.
To configure: Marketing > Reservation widget settings
Set the “Widget Title” to a message alerting guests to the change in operations.
Set the “No reservations available for the search” to a message that would appear after a guest searches
for a date that has no availability.
1. Updating restaurant availability
Reservation widget title
No reservations available for the search
Update Booking & Cancellation Policies
We recommend reviewing and updating your booking and cancellation policies to ensure they make
sense with the current situation in your area.
To configure: Settings > Availability >
Access Rules and/or Shift > Payment & Policy
If you require a credit card for reservations, we
recommend you also update your cancellation
policy found in this same section.
1. Updating restaurant availability
Sell catered meals
The Events Widget can be used not only for hosted events, but also as a way to sell inventory for
to-go meals. While this can be used any day, this is an especially good option for upcoming
holidays where you expected large volumes but guests may not wish to dine in public spaces.
To configure: Marketing > Events
Set your inventory type to “guestlist”
Name your inventory types to the pick-up times
and use the price and quantity fields to allow
guests to select how many meals to order.
Clone your inventory types and update the name.
2. Offer Take-Out Options
Use Public Descriptions
Use your booking widget to highlight what you are doing to keep your guests safe with public slot
descriptions.
To configure: Settings > Availability >
Access Rules > Public Description
The Time Slot Description is what will
appear in the booking widget.
The Title and Long Description will
appear after a guest has selected a
booking time and can provide
additional information.
3. Proactive Guest Communications
Run and Export Reservation Reports
You can use the Search Reservations Report to segment and export guest lists to proactively
communicate precautions you are taking, or follow-up if they’ve recently dined with you.
To get started: Reports > Search Reservations
Set your dates to a specific date, or date range,
including future dates to capture upcoming
reservations you want to proactively message.
Apply any tag filters and Export your report.
When you export, the file will include email
addresses so you can easily contact guests.
3. Proactive Guest Communications
Export your Client Database
Use email as a tool to educate and reassure guests on precautions you’re taking and remind them
you’re open for business. Invite them back, and perhaps offer an incentive like a glass of
champagne or a free appetizer.
To get started: Web > Clients
Apply any filters or tags to create specific guest
segments based off the message or incentive
you wish to provide.
Be sure to include the “Has Email” and the
appropriate marketing opt-out selections under
the Contact Info filter.
Export your report.
3. Proactive Guest Communications
Subject: We’re still here
Dear Friends and Family,
Let us start with we are all in this, and will get through this, together.
We understand in times of uncertainty we prefer to stick to what we know and what we can control. To give you some certainty back when it
comes dining with us at [RESTAURANT NAME], we want to share the list of precautions we took:
Safety Protocol:
• continuing cleaning & sanitizing thoroughly everyday
• heightening protocol on all sanitation efforts
• educating the entire team on preventative measures provided by the CDC
• ensuring that all standard operating procedures are being strictly upheld
We can guarantee that all these measures are followed by 100% of our team. And, because we are also confident our guests will take
precautions to keep our staff safe; we would love to have you continue dining with us.
If there is anything else, we can do for you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Stay safe and healthy,
GM
Example Guest Communications
Example communications to guests to let them know what steps you have taken to ensure a safe dining experience. Consider offering an incentive
to further entice guests to return. Please review and edit in accordance of your government’s protocols and your company policies.
3. Proactive Guest Communications
