TORONTO — OpenTable released the results of its “Technology and Dining Out” report, which surveyed diners across Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg to gain insight into what diners want from technology before, during and after the dining experience.
“Dining out, like virtually every other area of life, has been transformed by technology. But as diners across the country differ in their preferences, it’s important for restaurants to understand their market and strike the right balance for their concept,” said Bryan Huehn, country manager, Canada.
Insights from the survey concluded that 82 per cent of Canadian diners regularly search menus online before dining out. Ninety per cent wish they could use technology to get access to a popular restaurant and 81 per cent wish technology could inform them how long the wait for a table would be. At the restaurant, 23 per cent of diners said they “always” or “frequently” use their phones during meals to research and decide what to order, and the same number take photos to remember the experience.
The most common post-meal technology activity among Canadians is to coordinate plans with others (14 per cent), while 13 per cent share their experiences on social media. Another 12 per cent of diners interact with a restaurant’s loyalty program using technology.
