What matters most to diners today
U.S. consumers across generations and cities care most about convenience, personalization and value when dining out. They’re particularly loyal to brands they trust and willing to pay more for elevated experiences.
Two-thirds of diners book reservations on the fly
Diners have figured out that same-day reservations are a good option if they haven’t booked far in advance.
How far in advance do guests typically book reservations?
The strategies making restaurant profits rise
Restaurants across the U.S. are seeing growth — with a 21% year-over-year increase in reservations comparing Q1’23 to Q1’24. This year, restaurants are focused on two goals: opening new locations and adopting new tech. Here’s what’s helping restaurants grow in 2024.
Loyalty is the best policy, but it’s not one-size-fits-all
In the U.S., age plays a large role in what consumers look for from loyalty programs. With 75% of restaurants already offering a loyalty program, operators should curate benefits accordingly to stay competitive.
SevenRooms operators cashed in on upgrades in 2023
What’s simmering in restaurant marketing
The biggest themes in restaurant marketing from our research are related to authenticity, community connection and timely, targeted messaging using a multichannel approach. In 2024, restaurants are investing heavily in social media and exploring AI and automation.
To win at restaurant email marketing, the more targeted, the better
There’s value in building email relationships with customers. From February to May 2024, SevenRooms’ U.S. customers generated $12M in revenue with Email Marketing.
More than half of consumers try restaurants because of social media
Here are the top influences by generation.
Restaurant text marketing is blowing up
By 2025, U.S. SMS marketing is predicted to be worth over $12B, and early text marketing results from restaurant operators are promising.
How restaurants are powering up with AI and automation
The majority of U.S. hospitality operators are already using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in their business and plan to expand usage this year. They’re filling reservations, working more efficiently and delivering top-notch service.
7 in 10 restaurant operators are already using AI in some way to run their business.
