It is strongly recommended that customers be seated in the pre-allocated / ranked tables to ensure smooth operation during busy services. If operators are not seating customers at the allocated tables our guarantee regarding yield optimisation and improved revenues is simply not valid.
Any alterations to the table plan / running order (available via the print icon on the diary page) should be done prior to service. However, during service, discrete tables can be moved or swapped with other tables by dragging and dropping. Conjoined tables can be moved by clicking on the booking and editing covers, arrival time and so on. If the restaurant is fully booked it may be necessary to move a booking onto the waiting list in order to swap tables.
All restaurants, whether operating a computerised reservation system or not, should have a running order that they must adhere to ensure smooth service – this is simply “best practice” in the hospitality industry for busy restaurants.
Once service starts management and staff should refer to the running order and real time “Expected Arrivals” shown on the system. As customers arrive they MUST be marked as arrived and will disappear from the “Expected Arrivals” list – conversely possible late arrivals will start flashing in red on the “Expected Arrivals” list.
On no account should chance or booked customers be seated at an unoccupied table simply because it is empty – as this may cause chaos for guests who have pre-booked for later in the evening.