The restaurant reservation wars show no signs of slowing down

"Restaurant owners like Panjwani are caught in the middle of a growing battle of new and established reservation platforms vying for their business. The two dominant players for more than a decade, OpenTable and Resy, are now facing a wave of fresh competition from high-end services and even delivery apps all trying to win lucrative bookings at exclusive establishments."

"OpenTable, which launched in 1998, largely had a stranglehold on online reservations. Then Resy entered the scene in 2014, catering to high-end restaurants and drawing the attention of American Express, which acquired the company five years later. OpenTable remains the biggest service with about 60,000 restaurants."

"Resy, while smaller, tends to have trendier and more upscale places on its platform, which is partly why Panjwani ultimately chose it for One40. There's also its very competitive pricing, she said, since Resy charges just a monthly fee while OpenTable also charges a fee per diner."

Restaurant owners navigating online reservation platforms face a shifting competitive landscape. OpenTable and Resy have dominated the market for over a decade, with OpenTable controlling approximately 60,000 restaurants and Resy managing around 25,000 establishments. Resy is expanding by integrating Tock, a booking platform for wineries and tasting menus. New competitors and delivery apps are now targeting high-end dining establishments. Restaurant owners must weigh factors including pricing structures, platform reputation, and customer demographics when selecting reservation services. Economic pressures affect this decision, as nearly 40% of Americans report dining out less frequently to conserve money. Resy appeals to owners through competitive monthly-fee pricing and connections to premium credit card programs, while OpenTable charges both monthly fees and per-diner charges.

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