TheFork launches new tools to boost UK restaurants for summer

TheFork has introduced a suite of new tools to its restaurant management platform, TheFork Manager. These tools target improved booking rates, fewer no-shows, and more personalised guest experiences for UK hospitality venues ahead of the summer season.

Recent data from TheFork indicates that nearly one in four summer diners in the UK are tourists, presenting a significant opportunity for restaurants to increase revenue during peak months.

According to TheFork's analysis, European tourists make up a substantial portion of visitors, with the largest groups coming from Italy (18%), France (16%), Spain (8%), Germany (7%), and the Netherlands (6%). These guests also tend to spend more, with international tourists reportedly spending 20% above the average spend of local diners.

VisitBritain has projected that European tourists will spend GBP £33.7 billion in the UK in 2025, further highlighting the potential for restaurants to benefit from increased visitor numbers. During July and August 2024, 24% of all restaurant bookings were attributed to tourists, while international guests accounted for 23% of reservations at Michelin-starred establishments.

TheFork's Managing Director, Patrick Hooykaas, commented on the data, saying, "International dining is becoming more and more important to a restaurant's bottom line, particularly in London. We are seeing more money than ever before coming from European diners, and restaurants have to find a way to maximise these busy summer months."

He added, "Nothing is more expensive than an empty table. With the right visibility and guest experience, restaurants can not only fill more seats but build long-term loyalty among both tourists and locals."

In response to the growing importance of the international customer base, TheFork has launched several updates to its TheFork Manager software. This includes a no-show predictive tool described as an industry-first. This tool identifies reservations with a higher risk of being unattended and triggers reminder actions and alternative options for those bookings. The company reports that this has resulted in a 10% reduction in no-shows where the feature has been initially rolled out.

The platform also now features a new service summary tool, another claimed first for the market. This tool offers managers a consolidated view of critical booking information, such as allergy notes and guest birthdays, to help further tailor the service experience.

An additional enhancement is real-time interactive floorplans, which enable restaurant staff to adjust table layouts on the fly to optimise seating capacity as demand fluctuates.

To facilitate broader digital engagement, TheFork Manager now includes improved integration with social platforms, allowing for embedded channels and tools designed to make sharing restaurant promotions and content more seamless.

The release of these tools and the accompanying insights is intended to equip restaurants with practical solutions as they prepare for the anticipated increase in summer bookings from both domestic and international guests.