Reservations through your own website instead of a portal

With a portal, guests reach you through someone else's platform. That platform sits between you and the guest and usually keeps control over the data and the process. With your own website, the reservation happens directly with you.

• Portal: guests book on a platform that lists many restaurants.
• Portal: fees or commissions may apply for the referral.
• Your own website: guests book directly on your domain.
• Your own website: you decide how it looks and how you communicate.

Both routes bring in reservations. The difference is who ends up owning the customer relationship and who carries the cost and the control.

When guests reserve directly on your website, you benefit in several ways. The reservation becomes part of your own presence rather than a third-party marketplace.

What you actually gain

• No commission per guest for reservations made on your own website.
• The guest data belongs to your business, not to a platform.
• Consistent branding across your domain, website and confirmations.
• A direct customer relationship with no intermediary in between.
• More independence from the rules and rankings of individual portals.

Over time these points build recognition and loyal guests, because the contact stays directly with you.

The switch can be planned in clear steps. What matters most is that the booking path is simple and smooth for guests.

1. 1Set up your restaurant website on your own domain.
2. 2Add online reservations directly into the website.
3. 3Place a clearly visible reservation button, for example in the menu and the header.
4. 4Turn on automatic confirmations and reminders.
5. 5Configure table assignment to match your service.
6. 6Test the reservation once yourself as a guest.

After that, most of it runs automatically, and you keep an overview of every incoming reservation.

Your own website brings advantages, but it asks you to help build visibility yourself. A portal delivers passing traffic; with your own website you guide guests to you deliberately.

• Link your reservation page in your social profiles and your business listing.
• Place the reservation button in a prominent spot.
• Make sure the reservation works well on mobile too.
• Keep opening hours and capacity up to date.
• Kindly point regular guests to the direct reservation option.

When the path to booking is short and clear, guests find it quickly and prefer to book directly with you.

gastronomx is all-in-one restaurant software that brings together your restaurant website, digital menu, reviews, online ordering and online reservations. Reservations run directly on your website on your own domain.

Reservations as part of your presence

Guests reserve directly with you, with no commission per guest. The guest data belongs to your business, automatic confirmations and reminders are sent, and table assignment runs within the consistent branding of your website.

You can get started for free and without a credit card, and the platform is available in six languages.