Global online booking platform ResDiary has undertaken a data study of over 1000 pubs, clubs and restaurants across Australia and New Zealand to identify the top upcoming trends and can provide commentary on how businesses can capitalise on these in 2022. 

Some standout results include:  

  • The average patron is now making reservations 7.5 days before their desired booking date. After many weeks spent indoors, patrons are still keen to enjoy an in-venue dining experience; however, booking lead times have increased as patrons prefer to guarantee their reservations following increased limitations on venue capacities. Increased visibility and simplified booking process means capturing more potential customers planning their next outing, as well as the opportunity to predict stock and staff requirements based on reservation numbers.
  • We’ll be seeing a trend towards shorter dining times in 2022. In 2021, there was a 16% increase on 30-minute and 20% increase on 60-minute dining sessions. Whereas 180-minute dining decreased by 38%. This means that venues can reassess their seating times to potentially increase their availability by 1-2 dining sessions per day based on the new average preferred dining experience.
  • Pre-order & delivery were the most adopted technologies in 2021. Takeaway grew by 40% in 2021 and is expected to continue to increase as some consumers remain cautious about in-venue dining. With ongoing struggles for venues to operate at full capacity and many having made takeaway options a prominent integration to their operations; seamless ordering and contactless payment options via online orders remains a viable way to increase income and stock turnover.
  • Over 55% of total bookings were made through online channels. Restaurant websites and booking platforms such as Dish Cult are taking most bookings, which is only set to rise given the transition to digital platforms and increase in bookings made via social channels. This makes it easier for venues to determine their operating hours and staffing requirements under the ongoing pressures of the current climate on the hospo industry. 
  • Over 80% of venues are yet to connect their POS with booking and table management software. Integrating management software with POS can allow venues to accurately forecast revenue by calculating the number of bookings x average spend per order based on previous orders and spend data. This insight can equip venues to make informed predictions regarding stock orders and estimated revenue and is more valuable than ever considering the current strain on produce, staff, and venue capacities. A simple fix for saving money on resources and a smoother management process.

Here are some links to find further hospitality predictions from ResDiary impacting Australia and New Zealand in 2022.