---
title: How reservation systems will help the future of hospitality
description: Hospitality businesses would benefit from having a reservation system, SPARK can provide a system that will give you more control.
---

[SPARK EPoS | Blog](https://blog.sparkepos.com/blog)

# [How reservation systems will help the future of hospitality](https://blog.sparkepos.com/blog/how-reservation-systems-will-help-the-future-of-hospitality)

 Written by [Jasmine Common](https://blog.sparkepos.com/blog/author/jasmine-common) | May 25, 2021, 8:19:09 AM

 

Last week, hospitality businesses across England, Scotland and Wales **reopened indoors.** Even though pubs and restaurants have measures in place to help stop the spread of **coronavirus,** we are finally getting back to some **normality.**

Businesses have seen a huge increase of **bookings** over the past few months. Guests are preparing by booking tables **in advance** to make sure they get a seat. Recent figures from the Open Table show that **over 80%** of restaurants in the UK now take reservations, which has gradually increased over the past few months. The sudden shift in booking behaviour has made **hospitality venues** more prepared for opening indoors, and for the busiest periods of time (such as a bank holiday weekend). 

 

**Technology and Reservations**

We are living in a new normal, where people are using technology more and realising the effectiveness of this. **Online booking** has become so **convenient** that it can be done in the comfort of your own home. Once a table has been reserved, the information will be sent straight to the venue's staff, this service as a whole takes **less time** for everyone.

 

**Having full control of bookings**

There is a huge fear of **overbooking** and being too cautious. **Technology** can resolve this with **reservation systems,** where people can see what is available and when, perfectly fitting guests in so there aren't as many gaps in the day. This will provide more **profit** and **efficiency** for hospitality businesses.

 

**Staying organised**

Being able to update reservations in a **single location** will avoid **double booking,** confusion, and **bad reviews.** Organising and notifying potential customers about specific days a venue will be closed is very important, this can be done by making these dates unavailable for anyone to book online. 

**Personalisation**

Remember that customers are humans, and **not just a number in the booking system.** **Personalising** their overall experience will help businesses get **positive feedback.** This could be done by creating a section for customers to add notes/preferences that they may want or require before entering a venue, or by utilising a tag feature. Tags gain key insights into the customer’s behaviours and preferences, which is a great tool to help staff deliver a more personalised experience, developing a returning customer base. 

 

**SPARK Reservations**

**What makes SPARK Reservations stand out?**

- SPARK can help businesses keep control when following the **government restrictions.** Even though certain restrictions have eased, there are still rules in place where **groups of six or 2 households** are allowed to meet indoors. Reservations will help venues keep track of groups that are coming in, which will help **monitor the flow** of people coming in and out.
- One key feature we provide is a **buffer period** between each booking. This could be set to a specific time to clean the tables, making sure the area is **hygienic** and **prepared** for the next customers.
- In a [restaurant](https://www.sparkepos.com/restaurant/), customers can enter any **allergens or extra notes,** making staff aware of things that may need to be put in place before arrival.
- SPARK’s reservation system comes with a **floor plan,** which shows the general layout of the venue. This can be edited at any time if changes need to be made. A floor plan can also help businesses run more efficiently as they can easily view the **status** of a table, if there are any walk-ins staff will know if tables are or aren’t available.
- Sessions can be **closed** on the [terminal](https://www.sparkepos.com/project/masonry-project-08/) (for example, due to a wedding or birthday party being held). This will save lots of time as all potential customers who try to select these particular dates won’t be able to book a table, this ensures that **no mistakes are made** in the booking process.

 

 

[Learn more about SPARK Reservations](https://www.sparkepos.com/reservations/)

 

[View full post](https://blog.sparkepos.com/blog/how-reservation-systems-will-help-the-future-of-hospitality)

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