AI Summary
5 min readGetting a restaurant reservation used to be a straightforward call. Now, diners across the country find themselves logging onto apps at midnight, only to see nothing available. The problem isn't just demand — it's a complex ecosystem of reservation platforms, credit card perks, and middlemen that has fundamentally changed who gets a table and why.
The New Reservation Landscape
The world of restaurant booking has exploded beyond the familiar names. OpenTable was the original pioneer, establishing the standard of going online to see who handles reservations and booking there. But now there are many more players. Resy, which tends to carry higher-end, buzzy, and more exclusive restaurants, was bought by American Express in 2019. SevenRooms, another niche app, was purchased last year by DoorDash. And for those truly coveted tables, there are even more premium software services that troll the internet for openings. As WSJ reporter Heather Haddon put it, "It's really become a crazy world for that table of two."
How Credit Cards Changed the Game
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What you'll learn
- 1 (06:59) **The Reservation Nightmare: How Tech Took Over Restaurant Bookings** - WSJ reporter Heather Haddon explains the new normal of fighting for tables across multiple apps and the booming middleman industry.
- 2 (07:35) **The Reservation App Ecosystem** - Haddon runs through the major players, from legacy platforms to premium services.
- 3 (08:43) **Credit Card Companies Enter the Fray** - The 2019 Amex purchase of Resy changed the game by creating exclusive perks for elite cardholders.
- 4 (09:51) **The Restaurateur's Dilemma: Juggling Multiple Platforms** - Running a modern restaurant now requires dedicated staff to manage a “polyamorous” relationship with reservation services.
- 5 (10:56) **Social Media’s Role in the Frenzy** - The drive to post at “hot” locations has exacerbated the demand for exclusive tables.
- 6 (12:04) **Where the Industry is Heading** - The arms race may continue, but there are signs it could eventually ebb.
- 7 Standout Quotes
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
If you can’t score a restaurant reservation, you’re not alone. A flurry of dealmaking among reservation apps and credit cards, as well as a booming industry of middlemen, has made it impossible to snag a table. WSJ reporter Heather Haddon explains why. Plus, electric vehicle owners aren’t staying loyal to their battery-powered cars. WSJ’s Ellie Davis joins us to discuss why EV drivers are changing their minds. Belle Lin, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal Leadership Institute, hosts.
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