News & Press
SevenRooms Introduces Text Marketing to Power the Next Stage of Guest Engagement for Australian Restaurants
3 min read
Feb 25, 2025
3 min read
Feb 25, 2025
Text marketing – which boasts a 94% open rate – offers an untapped avenue for restaurants to drive direct engagement and revenue
One in three operators intend to invest in SMS marketing in 2025, to cater to the growing demand from guests - particularly Gen Z, for whom SMS is the most popular communication channel
SYDNEY (February 26, 2025) – SevenRooms, the leading CRM, marketing and operations platform for the hospitality sector, has today launched Text Marketing in Australia. Building on SevenRooms’ acquisition of AI SMS marketing platform HeyPluto, Text Marketing empowers hospitality operators to send one-time marketing campaigns via text message (SMS) and WhatsApp. Text Marketing unlocks unprecedented levels of guest engagement – driving meaningful connections and measurable results.
The launch comes as text messaging continues to establish itself as a highly effective marketing and communication channel – boasting an open rate of 94%. Consumers – particularly Gen Z, 37% of whom say SMS is their preferred marketing channel – view texting as a more convenient, authentic way to engage with brands.
Yet, for Australian operators, there is still a massive opportunity on the table. Only 38% of restaurants, bars and cafés plan to prioritise SMS and text marketing as a top marketing investment in 2025, according to SevenRooms research. This underinvestment suggests that many restaurants are undervaluing the transformative power of text marketing in forging genuine, immediate connections with their guests – while also overlooking the revenue potential for their businesses.
In the US, where SevenRooms launched Text Marketing in 2024, venues have already generated millions of dollars in incremental revenue. The average text campaign on SevenRooms generates revenue* of USD$1,800 (AUD~$2,835) – an ROI of 24x** – with one operator generating USD$70,000 (AUD$110,240) with a single text campaign.
Now, Australian operators can leverage Text Marketing to create data-driven campaigns within minutes, directly linking personalised messages to guest profiles, bookings, and spending behaviour.
“Tens of millions of Australians use SMS to communicate with friends and family every day, making it a critical channel for Australian venues to communicate with their guests as well. Building on our track record developing industry-leading marketing and operations solutions, we’re introducing Text Marketing to empower hospitality operators to connect with guests more directly and personally than ever before,” said Allison Page, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at SevenRooms. “As the needs of our customers – and their guests – have evolved, so too must the communication channels they use to reach their guests with timely and relevant marketing messages. Designed exclusively with restaurants in mind, Text Marketing helps operators send customisable messages more likely to convert to automated guest segments in a few clicks – reaching guests instantly. Plus, with point-of-sale integrations tied directly into our CRM, restaurants can, for the first time, launch campaigns that enhance the guest experience while understanding ROI.”
Text Marketing – the latest in SevenRooms’ commitment to and investment in R&D – helps restaurants connect with diners instantly via their mobile devices, delivering relevant, engaging content at the right time. For guests, SMS marketing offers a seamless way to receive tailored updates from their favourite venues. This includes messages highlighting upcoming events and experiences, menu highlights, last-minute availability, and other timely news.
With Text Marketing, SevenRooms continues to redefine restaurant marketing, helping operators strengthen guest relationships and maximise engagement. As the Australian hospitality industry embraces digital transformation, SevenRooms is equipping restaurants with the tools they need to stay ahead. For more information, please visit sevenrooms.com.
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About SevenRooms
SevenRooms is the leading marketing and operations platform for growing restaurants in the hospitality industry. From Michelin star gems to local favourites, the all-in-one platform helps restaurants increase sales, delight guests, and keep them coming back, automatically. The full suite of products includes reservations, waitlist and table management, review aggregation, referrals, email marketing, and marketing automation. Founded in 2011 and venture-backed by Amazon, Comcast Ventures and PSG, SevenRooms has more than 10,000 dining, hotel F&B, nightlife and entertainment clients globally, including: Momento Hospitality, Marriott International, MGM Resorts International, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Wynn Resorts, Jumeirah Group, Hard Rock Hotels & Resorts, Wolfgang Puck, Michael Mina, Union Square Hospitality Group, Australian Venue Co., Merivale, Solotel, The Wolseley Hospitality Group, Dishoom, Live Nation and Topgolf. www.sevenrooms.com.
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SevenRooms
*Revenue is calculated based on bookings from text campaigns linked to completed POS spend data; if unavailable, an average spend per cover is used.
**ROI is calculated by subtracting subscription fees paid by the restaurant from the total revenue generated from text campaigns.
