“Nearly nine in 10 American travelers have plans to travel in the next six months – a new pandemic high” – Forbes

“Expedia says that travelers plan to spend an average of $3,444 for their next trips” and “42% of travelers are “more hopeful” about travel or drove them to book an upcoming trip.” – Adweek

Americans are traveling again, finally. After many months of forced captivation it’s no surprise that people are ready to go somewhere far, far away. People are road tripping with their families, booking flights to new and exciting destinations, and spending money at businesses along the way.

Due to the influx of demand, the travel industry itself is kind of a “mess” right now, but businesses in destination areas, old and new, don’t mind as they are seeing crowds of customers for the first time in over a year. Knowing that it might have been rough getting there, it’s important now for your guests to feel welcome the second they arrive. If there was ever a time to get a waitlist management system, it’s now. Queue it up!

Guest experience is everything, and that starts with the check in/waitlist process. What can I do when I wait? What position am I in line? Can I drink at your bar? After a simple check-in, all of these questions can be answered with your custom Virtual Waiting Room. Aside from the annoyance and discomfort of physical lines, safety is still paramount for some travelers, especially those with unvaccinated children. Eliminating crowds at the door and keeping people informed is a must.

Iconic Restaurant Group Thrives with Virtual Waitlist App

Cheeseburger in Paradise sits right on the beach in Maui and offers, among other things, “great big gooey, five napkin” cheeseburgers in one of the most gorgeous places on earth. Cheeseburger in Paradise, which is in no way affiliated with the famous singer that shall not be named, is tapping into the post-covid travel boom just based on their location alone. 

With wait times stretching over 2 hours, Cheeseburger in Paradise want to keep their waiting guests happy and informed during that time. Before NextME came into the picture, the staff would call people individually and yell out names until their guests made their way back to the restaurant. This, of course, took a lot of time and staff power. More importantly, this method left seats empty when they could be filled more promptly. Since implementing NextME, their table turns have increased by 286%. 

“We’re turning tables much faster because we don’t have to wait for the guest to return. They already know. And the customers enjoy themselves more while they wait, they don’t have to just stand there in line”  – Bryan Bell, Manager

When dealing with long wait times, engagement, and communication are key to improving guest retention. Now guests waiting for a table at Cheeseburger in Paradise can view their position in line through their custom Virtual Waiting Room while they walk around beautiful Lahaina and take in the sites. Most importantly, they can gauge when they need to back so they’re on time for their table when it opens up. Engaged, updated, and on time. 

NextME’s Waitlist Management System Helps Your Bottom Line

After this success, The Cheeseburger Restaurant Group has implemented NextME’s waitlist app at their sister location and their Waikiki Brewery locations all over Hawaii.  Let’s make everyone’s vacation a little more special this year, and help your bottom line along the way. Restaurants, bars, retail shops, and bustling businesses across the country are benefiting from how quick, easy, and helpful the app truly is. Cheeseburger in Paradise is just one example of delicious success.

Learn more about how NextME’s system can help boost your business right now by booking a demo with one of our friendly representatives. Itching to get started? Download the app from the app store and start your free trial!