Prevent lost revenue from no-shows

The quick ways your booking tech can cut no-shows, from reminders to last-minute refills.

No-shows put direct pressure on hospitality margins. An empty table on a busy Friday is revenue you cannot recover, and on tight budgets the strain keeps building. The good news is that a few quick changes to how you use your tech prevent most of them.

Use email and SMS automation to prevent no-shows

• Confirm the booking by email or SMS, and restate your booking policy in the message

• Include a link for customers to confirm the booking; it improves tracking and gets a small commitment on record

• Send reminders by email or SMS 48 to 24 hours in advance. Ask about special requests, add a link to your menu and highlight any current offers

• Send follow-up messages for missed reservations and offer to rebook: 'Sorry we've missed you today'

• Check regularly that your automations are up to date and still running as intended

Optimise your booking platform

• Make it easy to cancel or amend: a link in the confirmation email lets customers edit the booking themselves

• Implement a reservation window and release tables after 15 minutes if the party hasn't arrived

• Restrict online bookings at peak times and keep some tables for walk-ins

• Keep a block list of frequent no-shows

• Take deposits or card details to secure bookings, and make sure your booking policy terms are clear and easy to find

Bonus tips to fill in for no-shows

• Promote last-minute availability by SMS, combined with a special deal

• Reach out to your loyal customers: 'Fancy popping by your favourite place for dinner tonight?'

• Post any last-minute availability on your social channels

• Run a waiting list for queuing customers

For more on deposits, reminder timing and the numbers behind them, see four battle-tested ways to reduce no-shows.

Start filling more tables more often with Stampede Bookings. Speak to our sales team to learn more.