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Reservation duration

The system automatically adjusts how long a table is booked based on the number of guests. By giving larger parties more time and offering shorter slots during peak hours, you can maximize your daily turnover without rushing your guests.

1. Duration by Party Size (Tiered Timing)

By default, the system is set to 2 hours for 1–99 guests. For a better guest experience, we recommend "Tiered Timing":

  • 1–4 Guests: 2 hours

  • 5–6 Guests: 2.5 hours

  • 7+ Guests: 3 hours

How to set this up:

  1. Go to Reservation Duration in your admin panel.

  2. Edit the existing "1–99" rule to "1–4 guests" and set it to 2 hours.

  3. Click "Add New" to create a second rule for "5–6 guests" at 2.5 hours, and so on.

 

2. Minimum Turnover (Flexible Gaps)

You can set a Default Duration (e.g., 2 hours) and a Minimum Duration (e.g., 1.5 hours).

  • How it works: If a full 2-hour slot isn't available online, the system will offer the 1.5-hour slot to the guest.

  • Guest Transparency: The system will clearly notify the guest of the shorter duration during the booking process and in their confirmation email.

  • Pro Tip: If you want all bookings to be exactly the same length, simply set the Minimum and Default times to the same value (e.g., 2 hours – 2 hours).


 

 

3. Phone vs. Online Settings

  • Phone Reservations: If you manually book a table and the default time doesn't fit the gap, the system will show you the exact available start and end times so you can decide if it works.

  • Drag-and-Drop: Note that if you move a reservation manually on the floor plan, the duration remains fixed to what you manually set and will not auto-adjust based on guest count.

Custom Times by Day & Hour

You can create specific timing rules for "Lunch Rush" or "Weekend Dinner."

How to add a Time Exception:

  1. Click "Add New Times" at the top of the page.

  2. Name it: (e.g., "Saturday Dinner" or "Quick Lunch").

  3. Select Days/Hours: Choose which days and what time window this rule applies to (e.g., 12:00 – 14:00).

  4. Set Capacity: Choose if this applies to everyone (1–99 guests) or specific party sizes.

  5. Set Duration: Enter the specific time limit for this window (e.g., 1 hour for lunch).

  6. Save.

Need Help?

If you have any questions or need help setting up your tiers, please reach out to our team at support@tablein.com.