The guy that makes multiple reservations at many restaurants for the same night—so he’s not left short on date night. The gal who
cancels a few hours before the time of the reso. Or the person who shows up with half the party; the others are coming for “dessert.”
(or gal).
Restaurants are reporting a disturbing trend lately—a rise in no-shows. Tock and other easy-to use online reservation systems and lack of available seats during the pandemic have apparently created some bad habits. Parties make multiple reservations, then forget to cancel or end up cancelling with short notice—like 5:30 on a Saturday night for a 7pm reso—too late for the restaurant to go to their wait list. Restaurateurs who confirm the day before still have no shows.
It’s not just here that it’s a problem.
A British study reports that the hospitality sector loses £17.6b each year due to no shows.
It also said that, since reopening, one in seven (14 per cent) are not turning up for their reservations, with one in eight (12 per cent) saying they are more likely to no-show than they were before the pandemic.
And, according to the British study, over a quarter of the group not showing up is between 18-34 years old.
Yes, things do happen, sometimes a cancellation is inevitable, but 39 seats on a Saturday night? (One eatery reported that astonishing number). In many good owner-operated restos, that is practically half the seats. It’s unlikely that every no-show is a life or death situation, it’s more likely a case of changed your mind, or don’t feel like it, or forgot.
Restaurants in other cities are asking for non-refundable deposits, creating pre-paid set menus and dispensing with reservations entirely (which works in more casual spots). Do it too many times and you may be locked out of the reservation system or not be able to get a table at your favourite spot.
Each seat is precious. Restaurants buy supplies, prep the food and staff the room based on the number of reservations. The money is spent. They incur heavy losses when people don’t show up. It’s more than being rude, it puts a business on precarious footing. Don’t be that guy (or girl)!