Reservation Wars The New Battleground for Tech Giants and Hungry Diners

• DoorDash's acquisition of SevenRooms signals a major move into the restaurant reservation space, challenging incumbents like OpenTable and Resy.
• Credit card companies like American Express and Visa are leveraging restaurant reservations as a perk to attract and retain premium cardholders, offering exclusive access and dining credits.
• The integration of delivery and dine-in data promises a more personalized dining experience, allowing restaurants to better understand and cater to their customers' preferences.
• The reservation wars are creating opportunities for restaurants to optimize their booking strategies and enhance customer loyalty through tailored marketing and exclusive offerings.

A Seat at the Table A New Tech Trend

I couldn't help but wonder... were restaurant reservations the new black? Suddenly, everyone wants a piece of the pie or, should I say, a table at the hottest spot in town. The reservation wars are back, darling, and they're fiercer than ever. It seems like just yesterday we were all fighting for a decent brunch reservation, and now DoorDash is buying SevenRooms for $1.2 billion. A billion. For reservations. Carrie Mathison would be baffled.

Delivery Apps Take on Dining

DoorDash, once known for delivering late-night tacos, is now vying for a spot at the fine-dining table. UberEats has teamed up with OpenTable, and American Express, already cozy with Resy, snagged Tock for a cool $400 million. It's like watching a high-stakes poker game where the chips are reservations and the players are tech titans. Speaking of titans, this reminds me of Nvidia's AI Dominance Faces Rising AMD Threat, only instead of chips, it's about getting a reservation at the trendiest restaurants. Is anything sacred anymore.

Credit Card Perks The New Dating Currency

Remember when a good job and a nice apartment were enough? Now, it's all about that Platinum American Express card and the promise of snagging a table at Per Se. American Express cardholders are dropping close to $90 billion on dining annually, and they expect something in return: preferential treatment. It’s like a modern-day Cinderella story, but instead of a glass slipper, it's a Resy reservation. And just like that, your credit score became your social status.

Data is the New Black

In the age of oversharing, it's no surprise that even our dining habits are being analyzed. DoorDash wants to know if you're a first-time diner or a seventh-time delivery customer. Are you ordering takeout because you are staying in or coming to the restaurant? Apparently, knowing your preference is the key to a better dining experience, but is it also a little creepy. I suppose in this digital age, data truly is the new black. It goes with everything, or so they say.

The Cool Factor vs. the Numbers Game

While OpenTable boasts a vast empire of 60,000 restaurants, Resy maintains its 'cool factor' and stronghold in major cities like New York. It’s a classic battle of quantity versus quality, scale versus cachet. Is it better to be everywhere or to be *the* place to be? As someone who's always valued style over substance, I can't help but side with Resy on this one. Though sometimes, a girl just needs a reliable reservation, you know?

What's Next for the Reservation Revolution

DoorDash is still in the early stages of its reservation integration, but they see "a lot of room to continue to grow." Will they succeed in capturing the entire dining experience, from delivery to dine-in? Will credit card companies continue to dictate where we eat? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: the reservation wars are far from over. And I, for one, will be watching with a cosmo in hand.