Efficient Guest Management For Busy Restaurants Helps Customer Retention

Have you ever wondered why restaurants acrossto wait when they have the freedom a guest call
the globe are now using paging systems to helppager offers. Waiting guests are alerted by the
control their seating management and efficientpager flashing/bleeping and/or vibrating (alert
serving of guests? If your establishment hasn'toptions are selected by the restaurant) when
considered using a restaurant paging system, seethey are required back at the hostess station for
if the following scenario sounds familiar.seating. Guests feel more valued when offered a
On a busy weekend a restaurants normalpager whilst waiting to be seated, they
pleasant ambiance can be completely changed byunderstand that the restaurant operators value
large numbers of guests gathering around thetheir patronage and attach a high degree of
front door trying to arrange a table, for theimportance to making the dining experience a
restaurant owner this is a double edged sword, onpleasurable one.
one hand it is great news that their establishmentFor the restaurant owner walk aways are
is so popular their a waiting list for tables, on thereduced and happy contented diners will
other the congregation of people detract fromrecommend the restaurant to friends and family
the usual elegant atmosphere that is one of theand are certain to revisit. A guest call restaurant
reasons the restaurant is popular with diners.pager system is an essential business tool for the
A hand written waiting list is the answer for manymodern busy restaurant.
establishments, but problems can arise whenPaging systems are also available for kitchen
waiting guests continually return to the hostesswaiter communication, wait staff have a small
station to ask if their table is ready yet or if theirdiscrete vibrating pager attached to their belt or
name has been called as they didn't hear clearlyapron, in the kitchen there is a call panel
what name the hostess was calling. Generallynumbered with each pager number and waiters
people will wait a short time to see if they arename. Once the chef has food ready on the pass
seated quickly, after this they tend to leavethey press the appropriate pager number on the
frustrated because the restaurant was to busy orcall panel and this signals the waiter by a small
irritated because they feel forgotten. This canvibration that food is ready for collection for their
lead to upset staff members who are constantlyassigned tables. If the wait staff has not collected
badgered by frustrated guests waiting for tablesthe food within a predefined time the pager will
and potential customers lost to the competitionautomatically vibrate again. Once the waiter
and unlikely to ever return.collects the food from the kitchen they press the
A restaurant pager system can be the answer tobutton on the call panel next to their name and
this problem, a guest call pager is handed to thethe paging is cancelled. Systems can even have
waiting guest when they are checked in at thean alpha numeric pager which the restaurant
hostess station, the guests can then relax at themanager would carry and if a member of the
bar, or even sit outside in a garden area with thewait staff has not collected their order from the
peace of mind that once their table is ready thekitchen after three calls an alert appears on the
hostess will alert them via their pager.manager's pager notifying them there is a
The latest guest paging systems evenproblem.
incorporate table management systems enablingServer call paging systems ensure efficient
the hostess to inform the waiting guest of thehandling of orders and guarantee the prompt
estimated table wait time from informationdelivery of hot fresh food to the table. Using
displayed on the base station this ensures thatserver paging staff numbers are kept to a
your guest's expectations are managedminimum and in many cases the requirement to
effectively at the time the pager is handed tohave runners delivering food can be eliminated
them. If the restaurant already has a tablesaving the restaurant owner substantial wages
reservation system many of the modern pagingbills.
systems can be fully integrated in to theseContented guests that feel valued will tell their
systems. New UHF frequency paging systemsfriends and family about their pleasant experience
have a range of up to two miles so guests areat your restaurant, employees that experience an
not restricted to a confined waiting area, they canefficient happy working environment are more
take advantage of all of the venues facilitiesproductive and stay for longer. Paging systems
comfortable knowing that they are contactableare a profitable business tool for modern
the moment their table is available.restaurant operators that are looking to ensure
Research shows that even with extended waitingthey offer an experience that both customers
times of over one hour guests tend to be happyand staff benefit from.