The New Speechlessness: How Planning Is Changing Restaurant Culture

The New Speechlessness: How Planning Is Changing Restaurant Culture

In the catering industry, the way we deal with guests has changed fundamentally in recent years. Today, visitors are increasingly planning their restaurant visits in advance. The selection of food and wine is an important part of the preparation. Email inquiries about wine lists and menus demonstrate a strong need for control, which results in a decrease in spontaneous exchanges during the restaurant visit. How World reports, it is no longer a given to follow the recommendations of the chef or sommelier and discover new things in the process. In fact, many guests prefer to plan their experiences carefully.

But it's not just guests' level of planning that has increased; The catering industry itself was also forced to reinvent itself. The pandemic has forced many companies to take new paths. Takeaway and delivery services quickly became the norm. Digitale Bestellsysteme haben sich etabliert und sind auch nach der Krise für den wirtschaftlichen Betrieb unerlässlich geworden, bestätigt BHS Tabletop. Many restaurants have to accept the challenges of digitalization because analogue orders are now considered cumbersome and no longer up-to-date.

Digitalization and customer wishes

The wishes of the guests play a central role in the implementation of new digital solutions. According to a 2022 YouGov survey, 68% of respondents expect to see the menu in advance, while 56% want to reserve online. 54% of those surveyed would like cashless payment at the table German fiberglass notes. These trends show how much pressure the hospitality industry is under to quickly adapt to changing customer needs.

Digital transformation is not just a luxury, but an urgent necessity for many catering businesses. The corona pandemic has accelerated change and led many businesses to implement digital menus and ordering options. Operators recognize that guest satisfaction largely depends on the speed and efficiency of digital solutions.

The role of human exchange

However, the new languagelessness in the catering industry also raises questions. While digital solutions make the ordering process easier, the typical human interaction is often lost. The joy of spontaneous conversations that made the restaurant experience so unique disappears. Instead of stimulating dialogues between guests and staff, pre-planned menus and contactless orders now dominate. This leads to a “new speechlessness” that requires politeness but no interpersonal interaction.

At a time when many traditional restaurant visits have undergone significant changes, the key question remains: What makes a good restaurant visit? If you think about the future of gastronomy, it becomes clear that a balance must be found between digital efficiency and human contact in order to preserve the true gastronomic charm.