This is How Guests are Using Resy
by David Klemt
Demand for in-person visits seems to be the big prediction of 2023, which means reservation platforms like Resy are crucial.
Of course, the value isn’t just the automation of reservations. Nor are these platforms just about simplifying waitlists.
Indeed, those are essentially the two functions such platforms must execute, and execute flawlessly. However, there’s more to modern reservation and waitlist platforms.
Today, guest-facing platforms should offer another feature to operators: discoverability.
This should go without saying but I’m going to address it anyway. With few exceptions, being discoverable is crucial for restaurants, bars, and hotels.
That means social media presence is crucial. Websites are still crucial. Operators ensuring they own their online review and travel site profiles is crucial.
In other words, if it’s online, has a search function, and makes recommendations to users, it’s crucial. It should also go without saying that operators need to meet potential guests where they are. And, again with few exceptions, they’re online.
As you may assume by now, Resy is a reservation platform that helps users discovers restaurants and bars. And if it’s helping guests discover these venues, it’s helping operators increase their reach and get discovered.
Reservation List Curation
The first feature I’m going to share is Climbing, which is what it sounds like.
When a tourist visits or someone moves to a new city, they tend to want to find their places. Which restaurants and bars will be their third spots, or the place they spend time between work and home?
Word of mouth is great, of course. But these days, reviews and comments are digital word of mouth. So, a curated list of “what’s hot” amongst restaurants in a given city is powerful for discoverability.
“Climbing on Resy is the only data-driven list powered by your reservations,” reads the Resy site. “Consider it a curated guide by locals, for locals.”
For ease of use, which is crucial for any platform, users can edit dates and party size within the Climbing tab.
The Hit List
Climbing isn’t the only list Resy curates on the platform. There’s also the Hit List.
This is a list Resy publishes each month for each major market in which they operate. It consists of ten venues that “should be on your radar.”
Using Philadelphia as an example, the city’s January Hit List per Resy is comprised of:
- CO-OP Restaurant & Bar
- Sor Ynez
- City Winery
- Condesa
- Ocean Harbor
- Fiore
- Rittenhouse Grill
- Forsythia
- Second District Brewing
- Vernick
The Hit List also includes the neighborhood or town where each recommendation is located. Again, not just discoverability but also ease of use.
Notify and More
Resy does more than just help people make reservations. There’s also the platform’s approach to waitlist management, Notify.
As the company describes it themselves, Notify is “a future waitlist.” Users can specify their date and time reference, and add themselves to a restaurant’s list.
On the operator side, they add the guest and an email or push notification is sent out. When a table that matches the waitlist user’s preferences opens up, they get an alert.
Users can also take advantage of Top Rated, New on Resy, and Book Tonight lists. Getting more granular, there are also other curated lists, such as:
- Great Tasting Menus Under $125
- Essential Cozy Locales
- Splurge-worthy Dining
- Where to Dine with a Crew
- Date Night, Covered
- Best Outdoor Dining
Additionally, Resy is in a partnership with American Express. So, eligible cardholders can use Global Dining Access by Resy for incredible experiences.
When considering their tech stack, platforms, and partnerships, operators need to consider an array of functions. More and more each day, discoverability is a function that needs to be top of mind.
Image: Resy
