‘No show’ restaurant customers to be slugged up to $105
WA restaurants are now charging ‘no show’ customers up to $105 per person.
The amount being charged is determined by the restaurant the booking was made with and varies anywhere from $25 per person, in the case of Shenton Park’s Petite Mort to $105 at fine dining restaurants including Hearth and the Ritz-Carlton at Elizabeth Quay.
Since the pandemic has started, it has become increasingly common for restaurants to ask customers for their credit card details when making a booking.
The move has been implemented to discourage people from making a booking and not turning up.
Owner of Fave Floreat Saemi Seon recently introduced a $10 per person no show policy after a particular Saturday night when they had numerous cancellations.
“We had one Saturday we turned away about six groups because we were fully booked for dinner and four tables — groups of eight, 12, four and two — all didn’t show up,” she said.
“The group of eight called to cancel about 30 minutes before, but the rest just decided not to show. This is when we decided, for small businesses like we are, we just can’t afford to have no shows.”
The move in WA looks to be following the trend in Sydney, where up-market venues are charging $100-plus a head for no-shows.
WA chief executive of Australian Hotels Association, Bradley Woods said it is costing the industry over $10 million a year when people fail to turn up to their bookings.
“These costs are associated with empty tables from turning away other patrons, staffing and wasted stock, so it’s perfectly understandable that venues take credit card details to ensure bookings are honoured,” he said.
Irit Jackson, 17th August 2021
