Jun 14, 2022

HMSHost Partners with OpenTable to Power Online Reservations at US Airport Restaurants Nationwide

Partnership includes 15 restaurants across 7 US airports

BETHESDA, Md. (June 14, 2022) – Global restaurateur HMSHost has announced they are partnering with OpenTable, a comprehensive restaurant platform (and part of Booking Holdings Inc., NASDAQ: BKNG) to power virtual waitlists at over a dozen HMSHost airport restaurant locations in 7 airports nationwide. Up next, the partnership will enable reservations in advance, as well as making airport dining part of the travel booking process. This comes ahead of the busy summer travel season; according to KAYAK (OpenTable sister company and part of Booking Holdings Inc.) search data, demand for summer travel is up around 34% on average compared to 2021.¹

“This is an exciting step HMSHost is taking to revolutionize the airport restaurant experience,” said HMSHost Vice President of Digital Neil Thompson. “Together with OpenTable, we are proud to be leading the way in incorporating more user-friendly technology in busy airports across the country. HMSHost’s investments in the all-embracing guest experience accelerate our business and continue to distinguish us as the leader in the travel dining industry.”

Restaurants integrating with OpenTable will use a best-in-class cloud-based table management, waitlist and reservation system that empowers HMSHost restaurants to add guests to waitlists and send table-ready text messages, optimize seating configurations, track server rotations, and also deliver clear data and analytics reporting. For waitlists, guests can join online via QR Codes or in person with the host. Diners will be notified via SMS text message when their table is ready, making the process seamless.

“OpenTable operates in over 110 countries and is part of Booking Holdings, the world’s leading provider of online travel and related services - we know travelers,” said Robin Chiang, VP of Global Sales & Services for OpenTable. “Our partnership with industry leader HMSHost allows us to create an even more seamless experience for travelers, and it comes during a period of growth and transformation for both industries.”

HMSHost restaurants featuring OpenTable reservations include:

• Charlotte-Douglas International Airport
  • Summer House Santa Monica
  • 1897 Market
• Denver International Airport
  • Denver Chophouse
  • Great Divide Brewing
    
• John Glenn Columbus International Airport
  • Hangar 815
• Las Vegas: Harry Reid International Airport
  • California Pizza Kitchen
    
  • Chili's
  • Jose Cuervo Tequileria
  • Las Vegas Chophouse & Brewery
    
  • PGA Tour Grill
    
  • Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill
    
  • Sammy's Woodfired Pizza
    
• Los Angeles: LAX International Airport
  
  • Point the Way Café
• Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport
  • Chili's
    
• St. Louis Lambert International Airport
  • Mike Shannon’s Grill

¹KAYAK Methodology

KAYAK considered searches from May 11-25, 2022 for travel between May 26 - September 6, 2022. To compare year over year, KAYAK considered searches from the same timeframe in 2021. Percentages are on average.

HMSHost Leading the Industry

HMSHost is recognized by the industry as the leader in travel dining with awards such as Restaurateur with the Highest Regard for Customer Service and Best Brand Restaurateur for Shake Shack by Airport Experience News. USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards gave first place honors to both of HMSHost’s Whisky River locations at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. ACI-NA, the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, recognized HMSHost with the 2020 Associate Inclusion Champion Award, for leadership and achievement in the ongoing inclusion of business and workforce diversity, outreach, and advocacy. The company also creates original award-winning events and campaigns including Airport Restaurant Month, Channel Your Inner Chef live culinary contest, 1,000 Acts of Kindness, and Eat Well. Travel Further.

About OpenTable

OpenTable, part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), connects more than 1 billion people with restaurants every year, helping power hospitality at more than 50,000 restaurants, bars, wineries, and other venues across the globe. With software that drives reservations, experiences, payments, guest insights and operations, OpenTable enables restaurants to run their most successful business yet.