New website names and shames diners who don’t turn up for their booking
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17.11.2020

New website names and shames diners who don’t turn up for their booking

Image by Spencer Davis
Words by Tom Parker

No-Show provides a platform for venue operators to log guests who don’t appear for their allotted booking.

Melbourne has been resuscitated. Wander through the city’s social hubs – from Chapel Street to Swan Street through to Brunswick Street and beyond – on a weeknight or weekend and the thoroughfares are rife with activity.

While a modest congregation can come together inside hospitality venues, the rise in outdoor seating has been the primary catalyst to the city’s transformation.

It must be noted that these venues are still operating at a reduced capacity however – the margins are tight and it’s more important than ever that every guest who pledges their attendance honours that commitment.

For the large part, Melbourne punters have proven reliable but this has not always been the case. On their first night back, Cherry Bar opted not to implement a cancellation fee. This can back to bite them as only seven of their 20 bookings showed.

To combat this worrying trend, a website has been created to expose those who flake on their bookings. No-Show has been developed by Perth restauranteur Mark Diels and provides a platform for venue operators to log guests who don’t appear for their allotted booking.

“Being a restaurant owner myself, I know how much effort they [venue operators] put into every reservation, and how heartbreaking it is when someone doesn’t show up,” Diels said in a press statement.

“I also know how little time they have, so I wanted this to be an easy, cost-effective solution to protect themselves, their staff and their other customers from a problem that is only getting worse.”

To access No-Show, venue operators pay an annual fee of $99. When taking a reservation, staff can search the phone number of a customer. If the number has been previously entered, the venue will be informed as to the number of occasions and specific dates that this customer has been a no show in the last two years.

Upon this reservation, the venue then has the option to request a credit card number or deposit to confirm the booking.

If a venue then experiences a no show, they have the opportunity to share the booking phone number by registering it into the database which will help inform other restaurants of previous no show behaviour.

Check out the website here.

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