September is here, and it feels like a long goodbye to summer. While the days are still warm, it's the perfect time to reconnect with your guests, make them feel looked after, and get ready for the busy season ahead.
This guide walks you through 6 key features that can help you secure more bookings, reduce no-shows, bring guests back through your doors, and deliver an even better experience every time.
Heads up : not every feature here is available on every plan. If something's missing from your account, let us know here.
1. Payments : the best way to secure your bookings
Bookings are picking back up, and empty tables are expensive. A service without a deposit is like setting the table and crossing your fingers. To make the most of the busy season and enjoy a full house, don't forget to :
Turn on prepayment for your peak services
Set your cancellation policy so a late cancellation or no-show doesn't cost you the prepayment
Test a booking to check the guest journey end to end
All there is to know about prepayments
2. SMS : Give your guests a little nudge
Your guests can have a lot on their plate, so a booking made in July is easy to forget by September. That's why a text the day before can make all the difference :
Turn on SMS reconfirmation requests ahead of every service
Choose Standard or Advanced mode depending on how far ahead guests book
Make sure bookings are confirmed ahead of service, that's what triggers the automatic SMS.
How to enable reconfirmation requests
3. Booking channels : your house, your rules
As demand returns, make it as easy as possible for guests to book through your own channels. Restaurants using Zenchef get direct, commission-free reservations through their own channels; website, Google, Instagram, and more. So don't forget to :
Check that all your active booking channels are up to date for the new season
Review which channels: (Google, Meta) are switched on in you account
Track your channel mix in your stats to spot direct bookings climbing
4. B2C App : the perfect pairing
A guest who books through the Zenchef app is a guest you don't have to share. Back to school is the moment to remind them it exists. Don't forget to :
Promote your B2C app link on your website, socials, and guest communications
Promote your restaurant within the app, using your personalized restaurant link, in post-visit and Marketing Suite messages
Check app-driven bookings in your reporting to track adoption
Get started with the Guest App
According to availability in your location.*
5. Marketing Suite : reconnect with your summer guests
September brings an end to the slower pace of summer. For your guests this means going back to work, back to the daily commute and back to school. Summer visitors are only one message away from becoming regulars. You can get creative and reach out, make your guests feel like they are remembered and valued. Here are a few ideas to get started :
Build a segment of guests inactive since summer
Launch a personalized comeback email or SMS campaign
Promote your new seasonal menu to give them a reason to come back
Track opens and bookings generated in the campaign report
6. AI Tag Assistant : know your regulars to grow your revenue
A regular guest appreciates the little details that make them feel remembered. Tags let the whole team remember, even when memory fades after the break. Don't forget to :
Make sure automatic tagging is switched on for your account (it's on by default on Grow plan)
Review the tags generated on your next few bookings
Brief your floor team on reading and using tags during service
Here's your back-to-school checklist :
☐ Prepayment turned on for peak services
☐ SMS reconfirmation turned on
☐ Booking channels checked and up to date
☐ B2C app promoted across your channels
☐ "Inactive since summer" guest segment created
☐ Personalized comeback campaign sent
☐ Automatic tagging (AI Tag Assistant) switched on
☐ Floor team briefed on spotting Tag Assistant's tags
Looking to activate a feature that's not included in your plan ?
Contact us via this form and we'll get back to you quickly.