OpenTable, a leading provider of free online reservations for diners and guest management systems for restaurants, recently conducted a survey regarding Valentine's Day dining trends that revealed some surprising results: according to OpenTable diners, romance just might be recession-proof!
OpenTable's Valentine's Day electronic survey was distributed to diners in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago. Below are some highlights from the results:
Romance Rivals Recession: more people plan to eat out in 2009
Approximately 64% of respondents plan to dine out on Valentine's Day versus 47% of respondents who actually dined out on Valentine's Day in 2008.
Food Trumps Jewelry: people prefer a nice meal versus a gift
Approximately 78% of respondents would rather have a nice meal out with their partner than receive a gift on Valentine's Day.
European Inspires Romance: people perceive cuisine as romantic
Approximately 66% of respondents rate French and Italian as the two most romantic cuisines.
Trends: Many restaurants are extending their Valentine's Day offerings to capture more people. What's great about this? They provide additional opportunities to celebrate that are less stressful and easier on the wallet. Also, additional 'freebies' and special offerings make the experience even better - such as complimentary champagne, live music and dancing, and approachably priced overnight packages. Great offerings include:
About OpenTable, Inc.
OpenTable is a leading provider of free, real-time online restaurant reservations for diners and reservation and guest management solutions for restaurants. The OpenTable network delivers the convenience of online restaurant reservations to diners and the operational benefits of a computerized reservation book to restaurants. OpenTable has more than 10,000 restaurant customers, and since its launch in 1999, has seated more than 90 million diners around the world. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and the OpenTable service is available throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Japan, Mexico, and parts of Europe.
