While states grapple with the decision to end shelter-in-place orders, attention is shifting towards rebooting the economy. Some Americans are ready to jump back in today, while others will need the comfort of continuing COVID precautions. In order to help alleviate consumer concern with dining in and rebuild trust in restaurant dining rooms, restaurant operators will need to follow guidelines to reassure customers and enlist tactics that go beyond sanitation and social distancing.
It’s important to acknowledge that customers will have different needs, so it may be a good idea to add special senior seating or designated hours. Continuing takeout and delivery options even after your dining room is reopen may be a way to re-engage with those who have been wary of eating out. Most consumers will go back to eating in restaurants but will want to take safety measures like social distancing and increased hand-washing.
Consumers seem to trust restaurants more than other people. So, restaurants can help mitigate consumer concern by making sure increased sanitation and social distancing efforts are obvious to diners. Tactics like reducing seating capacity for more space between tables and making it easy to social distance in waiting areas are easy to carry out operationally.
In this report, you’ll find data and insights around consumer perceptions and apprehensions that you can address when reopening your restaurant. Key takeaways from this report are as follows:
- 20% will feel safe eating out at restaurants once no new cases of COVID-19 are in their city
- 20% will feel safe eating out at restaurants once no new cases of COVID-19 are in their state
- 67% will dine in cautiously once COVID-19 eases
- 21% will dine in normally once COVID-19 eases
Download the full report from Datassential by clicking the button below.
Recent Comments