DISH Reservation Starter guide
Table of Contents
GETTING STARTED WITH DISH RESERVATION
What is DISH Reservation?
DISH Reservation is a comprehensive online reservation system that allows your guests to book tables 24/7. With over 2.5 million customers already having booked through the platform, DISH Reservation helps you maximize profitability and guest satisfaction by increasing online visibility, ensuring 24/7 availability and managing bookings automatically – so you never miss a potential guest.
Key Benefits at a Glance:Â
- 24/7 Availability - Never miss a reservation, even when you're closed
- 0% Commission - No booking fees or hidden costs
- Automatic Management - SMS and email reminders reduce no-shows. (SMS reminders require the Premium SMS add-on. Without the add-on, only email reminders are sent)
- Multi-language Support - Speak to your guests in their own language. Our reservation management system can facilitate guest communication in 15 languages
- Complete Integration - Works with any website platform
INTEGRATION & SETUP
Getting Started - Initial Setup
The DISH Reservation tool integrates on DISH websites and any other websites you have so you never miss a booking. And you don't need any technical skills to set it up.
Essential Setup Articles:
- DISH Reservation Onboarding - Complete step-by-step setup process
- How do I login in DISH Reservation?
- How to access DISH Reservation through a mobile device?
Website Integration & Multi-Platform Access
- Universal Compatibility - Works with DISH websites and any other website platform
- Google Integration - Guests can book 24/7 through your DISH website, other websites you own, and directly from Google search so you never miss a reservation
- Mobile Optimization - The mobile-optimised widget works on all devices, for instant reservation management
TABLE & SEAT MANAGEMENT
What is the difference?
1- Seat-Based Management
- Focuses on individual seat capacity
- Best for: Cafés, bars, casual dining with flexible seating
- Guests book for number of people, system assigns seating
- Simpler setup, more flexibility
2- Table-Based Management (Recommended)
- Assigns specific tables to reservations
- Best for: Full-service restaurants, formal dining
- Better control over service flow and guest experience
- Visual table planning and management
- Prevents overbooking specific areas
👉 Why do we recommend Table Management?
Table-based management offers superior control and guest experience. Benefits include:
- Visual Overview: Graphical table plan shows real-time availability
- Service Optimization: Better spacing of reservations for kitchen and service flow
- Premium Experience: Guests feel more valued with specific table assignments
- Operational Efficiency: Staff can prepare specific areas in advance
- Revenue Optimization: Better management of premium table locations
How to set up the reservations (seat-based or table-based)?
How do I edit or add tables in my table plan?
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Daily Reservation Management
Dashboard Overview
Your daily dashboard provides a complete view of the day's reservations with:
- Timeline View: See all reservations chronologically
- Table Plan View: Visual representation of your restaurant layout
- Status Tracking: Monitor confirmed, arrived, and cancelled reservations
- Guest Information: Access contact details and special requests
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Managing Different Types of Reservations
1. Online Reservations
- Automatically confirmed based on your settings
- Guests receive instant confirmation emails
- SMS reminders sent automatically
2. Phone ReservationsÂ
To add manual reservations received by phone:
- Click "Add Reservation" in your dashboard
- Enter guest details, party size, and preferred time
- System will suggest available tables/times
- Confirm and save - guest will receive confirmation if email provided
3. Walk-in GuestsÂ
Handle spontaneous guests easily:
- Click "WALK-IN" on the top right of your dashboard
- Enter arrival time and party size
- System automatically suggests available seating
- Assign to table plan instantly
Reservation Status Management
Update reservation statuses throughout service:
- Confirmed: Initial booking status
- Arrived: Mark when guests are seated
- Cancelled: Update for no-shows or cancellations
- Completed: Service finished, table available
Automatic Table Management
A significant advantage of DISH Reservation is the table and seat management, where guests are placed automatically by the solution, this option saves time and prevents double placements. Online requests can be confirmed directly for the guest via the management system which automatically checks free capacities.
Visual Management Tools
A graphical table plan and a timeline helps you and your service staff to have a better overview. Access comprehensive table plan management through:
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CAPACITY & BOOKING MANAGEMENT
Smart Booking Controls
Two different features of DISH Reservation can help to better manage the occupancy of your restaurant and ensure that the service remains of a high quality and therefore keep customers happy: The 'Booking Limit' feature allows you to limit the accepted reservations regardless of capacity. This way you can set rules for certain days or times where only a certain number of guests can reserve for the same time. Once this amount is reached, the tool will independently suggest the guest to reserve for 30 minutes later.
Promotional Features
Use promotions for certain days or times to motivate your guests to visit the restaurant at a different time by offering a small discount. These discount times can be created by yourself and displayed in the online widget during a reservation.
Advanced Setup:Â How do I create an offer to be displayed on my reservation widget?
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INTEGRATION WITH OTHER DISH SERVICES
Complete Digital Solution
DISH Reservation works seamlessly with other DISH products:
- DISH Website - Professional restaurant websites with built-in reservation widgets
- DISH Order - Simplify the ordering process, reach more potential guests and pay zero commission with DISH Order. Available to purchase as an individual solution or as a premium solution with DISH Reservation
- DISH Weblisting - Create a Google business account in seconds with DISH Weblisting. Establish your restaurant as a professional business, communicate directly with guests via review management and increase reservations by directing traffic to your website
SUPPORT & RESOURCES
Getting Help
Our DISH experts are always available to offer support and answer your questions about your restaurant via phone, email and WhatsApp. Or go to the DISH helpdesk database for information on DISH tools (including troubleshooting and setup).
Multi-Language Support
The system is available in 15 languages, making it accessible for international guests and diverse markets.
Additional Services
Reach more potential guests with a mobile-optimised website designed specifically for hospitality businesses. Simply upload your text and pictures into a template. Includes automated SEO and AI text translation for maximum reach.
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