What OpenTable is (in plain English)

OpenTable is a single place for restaurants to take online reservations, run the floor, communicate with guests, and learn from data. It’s part of Booking Holdings and is trusted by 60,000+ restaurants worldwide, helping them fill about 1.9 billion seats a year—so there’s serious demand behind the platform. (prnewswire.com)

Why this matters to a solid Back Office

• One source of truth for guests. Build rich, 360° guest profiles with tags, notes, dining history, and automated insights so your team can recognize regulars and personalize service without separate spreadsheets. That’s real, practical CRM for restaurants. (opentable.com)

• Revenue data that actually flows. POS integrations (e.g., Oracle Micros Simphony, NCR Aloha, Toast, Square, Lightspeed) sync table status, checks, and guest spend back to OpenTable—fueling accurate flash reports, pacing, and smarter quoting without manual re-entry. (opentable.com)

• Stronger cost control and fewer no-shows. Use deposits and credit-card holds, automated confirmations, and SMS reminders to lock in covers and cut last-minute losses. That stabilizes nightly revenue and staffing. (opentable.com)

• Marketing you can measure. Tap OpenTable’s diner network and booking widgets, plus visibility across 100+ booking partners and a wider affiliate ecosystem, then track the ROI right in the platform. (opentable.com)

• Predictable fees that align with value. On Core/Pro, you pay cover fees only for diners OpenTable brings you (not phone-ins or walk-ins), and your own-website bookings are free—clean and easy for back-office accounting. (opentable.com)

• Always-on support. 24/7 help from hospitality pros keeps service running and your back office calm. (opentable.com)

What you can do with it day to day

• Online reservations and table management. Custom floor plans, smart table assignment, access rules, and real-time inventory to pace the room and maximize turns. (opentable.com)

• Waitlist (in-house and online). Let guests join the line from anywhere, send SMS “table ready” texts, and show real-time place-in-line to reduce lobby congestion and abandonment. (opentable.com)

• POS-connected service. See spend alerts, order progress, and check status on the floor plan so hosts quote accurate waits and managers seat the next party at the right moment. (opentable.com)

• Guest messaging and reminders. Two-way direct messaging plus automated confirmations and reminders lower no-shows and give guests a smoother, more personal experience. (opentable.com)

• Experiences, ticketing, deposits, and holds. Monetize special menus and events, take prepayments, and protect premium slots. (opentable.com)

• Marketing and visibility. Boost your presence on OpenTable and through a large affiliate network with always-on booking, so you capture demand 24/7. (opentable.com)

How OpenTable strengthens the Back Office specifically

• Cleaner financials: POS-integrated covers and check totals map back to reservations, making nightly reconciliation and period-end reporting faster and less error-prone. No double entry. (opentable.com)

• Sharper labor planning: With accurate pacing, turn times, and forecastable demand, managers can staff confidently and reduce overtime surprises. (opentable.com)

• Actionable performance views: Pre-shift reports and dashboards connect covers to revenue and guest mix, so you can adjust pricing, seating rules, and marketing with data—not hunches. (opentable.com)

• Simplified policy enforcement: Access rules, deposits, credit-card holds, and automated comms standardize how you handle peak times and high-demand tables across teams and locations. (opentable.com)

Plans and pricing at a glance

• Basic: $149/month. Core reservation tools, marketing presence, and essential operations features. Website bookings are available at $0.25/cover or $49/month flat. (opentable.com)

• Core: $299/month. Adds POS integration, in-house/online waitlist, direct messaging, automated messages, and deeper guest insights. Website bookings included; pay only for OpenTable network covers. (opentable.com)

• Pro: $499/month. Everything in Core plus advanced relationship tools and analytics to drive loyalty and revenue. Website bookings included; same cover-fee model for OpenTable-sourced diners. (opentable.com)

• Prepaid experiences/ticketing carry a small service fee, and OpenTable only charges for seated network covers—no fees for phone reservations or walk-ins. (opentable.com)

The scale and network effect you can lean on

With millions of diners searching and booking every day, OpenTable’s demand engine helps fill shoulder times and backfill cancels quickly (think “Notify Me” alerts and high-intent waitlists). That scale is what turns the platform into a reliable revenue pipeline—not just a reservation book. (prnewswire.com)

Bottom line

If you want a solid, modern Back Office, OpenTable gives you the guest CRM, operational control, POS-connected revenue data, and measurable marketing you need—all in one place. It helps you maximize revenue, run smoother shifts, and make smarter decisions with fewer spreadsheets and far less guesswork. For most restaurants, that’s the practical path to a calmer front door and a stronger back office. (prnewswire.com)