In Reserve's case, that means that in addition to just managing reservations, the system also includes a customer database, so restaurants can keep track of someone's preferences and allergies across visits, and even across restaurants in a larger group or chain.
The service offers tools for managing reservations, payment processing, email notifications, a check-in/check-out system, and can host the files that have been typically handled as paper handouts – like medical release forms, enrollment reports, and rosters.
But as hotels have merged into huge chains with central computer systems to manage reservations, predict demand and maintain preferred-customer data, yield management has arrived at the front desk like a busload of noisy conventioneers.
The app, for iPhone and Android platforms, allows a user to search for tickets and buy them, to manage reservations, to find bus stops and to estimate the arrival time of a bus that is currently on the road.
But the perseverance of a San Francisco-based company called OpenTable, which has come to dominate the business of online restaurant reservations, is making it much easier for restaurants to manage reservations and improve customer service.
With nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms, the barn complex can sleep as many as 18 people, while dozens can be accommodated for a wedding, especially if a marquee tent is set up in the gardens, explained Debbie Gray, Mr. Mermagen's fiancée, who helped him with the barn's interior design and now manages reservations.
The San Francisco-based startup is launching today with a unified, online solution to allow service providers to manage reservations, payments, calendaring and scheduling.
It also helps you manage reservations, find nearby food and drink, access a list of saved places, and plan how you'll get from one place to the next.
The startup, launched in February 2012, allows users to book and manage reservations through iOS or Android apps, as well as on its Web site and through travel management companies.
Schwab tells me the three are working on an iOS app where users will be able to manage reservations on the go, as well as new features like user-to-user events and package tracking.
Urbanspoon also announced today that the James Beard Foundation is moving to the Rezbook system, and will use it to manage reservations and event check-ins for the James Beard House and out other events, like the James Beard Foundation Greens, C&C and the fall gala and auction.
