This is how Sprakel in Lonneker handles reservations
A Grand Café that exudes homely coziness, that’s how owner Mariëlle Bergink describes Sprakel in Lonneker. Together with her husband Mirco, she evolved the Twente village pub into a multidisciplinary hospitality business that expanded over the years with a large terrace, a cafeteria, and an ice cream parlor. “With our constant stream of guests and versatility, maintaining an overview is important. Our reservation system is the leading factor for the day.”
Sprakel Eten & Drinken is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. It’s basically open for everything between joy and sorrow; guests are welcome for a cup of coffee, an extensive dinner, or a cozy evening at the café with a good beer. Sprakel is also the meeting point for walking or cycling, parties big and small, and various meetings. Because of these diverse activities, every day is different. The reservation system provides control: “Every morning we look at the dashboard to see what is planned and then zoom in on the details. For which reservations have allergies or special requests been noted? Which packages are booked for which rooms? You not only have insight into the number of reservations, our team also knows right at the start of the day how the table layout needs to be adjusted and how many breakfasts or brunch boards need to be prepared.”
Better distribution and occupancy
Because of the reservation module on the website, Sprakel’s guests can quickly and easily make reservations online. “As a hospitality entrepreneur, you decide which time slots and packages you make available on which days and at which times. We also experiment with this to achieve the best possible distribution. For example, since this year we have added the booking option next to the package where guests can reserve a high breakfast or brunch board, where you can choose a reservation of 1.5 hours, 2 hours, or ‘enjoy for as long as you like’. That is true hospitality because guests can choose whether they just want to come for a glass of wine or spend the whole evening with their colleagues without an end time. On the other hand, we can plan better with the staff team in and outside the kitchen. We also know exactly how long tables are occupied and can fill them more often.”
Guest list provides an overview
What about spontaneous walk-ins? Those are still encouraged. “Because of the overview provided by the guest list and the reservation overview, we can place walk-ins more easily. And yes, it may mean that you have to wait for a moment with a drink at the bar. The advantage we have is that we are centrally located between cities like Enschede, Oldenzaal, and Hengelo, and Sprakel is visited intentionally.”
The complete picture
Since 2018, Sprakel has been using DISH Table Reservations. “How did we manage reservations in the past? We did it on paper, and then we drew table layouts in a thick reservation book with a pen. Can you even imagine that now? An online reservation system fits the times. What appeals to us is the complete picture: you have a clear overview of the number of reservations, you can visualize them in the table layout, and you have access to all the details in the guest list.”
Extension of hospitality
What does online reservation with DISH Table Reservations bring Mariëlle? “A bit of service and an extension of our hospitality. Guests receive a neat booking confirmation with all the details. Online reservations also save a lot of phone calls, especially around dinner time and when the restaurant is busy. Being able to display packages at the top of the reservation module also promotes them. Because not everyone clicks through our entire website to see what offers are available.”
User-friendliness and support are advantages
Mariëlle is satisfied with DISH Table Reservations and also considers the user-friendliness a plus. “The reservation system is super easy to use; anyone can handle it. Both the office staff, the chefs in the kitchen, and the service staff at the bar. In addition, the contact with support is pleasant and we receive good help when we have questions. Yes, this reservation system is definitely recommended!”