Group booking – what does it mean?

Group booking refers to a reservation for a larger number of people made all at once. It is typically used in restaurants, cafés or other eateries when you want to reserve tables for parties, events or corporate lunches, for example.

A group booking is practical when one person wants to book on behalf of several – for example when a guest needs to reserve for a birthday with 12 people. Instead of making 6 separate table bookings for 2 people, everything is combined into one simple, clear booking. This saves time for both guest and staff, and also ensures better planning of table capacity.

A concrete everyday example could be a café receiving an enquiry about a Friday lunch for 20 people. Using group booking, the staff can quickly block the relevant number of seats, adapt the menu and possibly request pre-orders or a deposit. This ensures the café is prepared and the experience for the customers is the best it can be.

It is important to know about group booking because it has a big impact on both operational planning and customer service in the restaurant and café industry. With a POS system that supports group booking, you avoid overbooking and can better manage the table plan, staffing and ingredient use on days with larger parties. It also brings administrative benefits, such as being able to send a single confirmation, keep track of payments and get a better overview in reporting.

How does the Flexybox system use group booking?

In the Flexybox booking system you can easily create a group booking, so larger parties quickly get the seats they need reserved. The system lets you mark and combine tables, send confirmations, note special requests and charge prepayment if required. At the same time, staff get an easy overview of larger reservations, making it easier to prepare and plan service and staffing. This creates more efficient operations and a better experience for guests.

Read more about related terms:

– Read about Table booking

– Read about Online booking

Frequently asked questions

A regular table booking is typically for a small number of people (2-6), while a group booking covers larger parties and often needs more coordination around table setup, menu and payment method.

Yes, Flexybox lets you charge prepayment for group bookings, which gives the restaurant more security and reduces the risk of no-shows.

It depends on your business practice, but a group booking is often defined as anything from 8-10 people upwards. The system can be adapted to your needs.

Yes, via Flexybox guests can make group bookings online themselves if this is enabled – otherwise it is easily done by phone or directly in the booking system.