SOUTH Africa's leading reservation software company has just launched a free online booking platform for restaurants in South Africa.  

Branded 'Requests by Dineplan', restaurants can now load an interactive booking widget onto their website, Facebook page and Google business listing for guests to make quick and easy booking requests online.

It also integrates into the Dineplan mobile app for consumers booking on the go. The widget allows guests to choose the date, time and party size they would like to book for. 

Once a request booking is made on the widget or app, the system automatically notifies the restaurant via SMS and email to respond to the guest timeously. 

Dineplan co-founder Greg Whitfield said this platform is highly beneficial for restaurants, particularly those still using outdated booking enquiry forms on their websites. 

‘Around 80% of guests who do not receive a response to their booking request within 30 minutes, simply book elsewhere. 

‘The decision was made to roll out Requests by Dineplan free of charge to encourage restaurants to offer online reservations. 

‘Consumer trends show a significant increase in demand from consumers to be able to transact online.  

‘It has become standard practise to book flights, rental cars, accommodation and movies online, and restaurant bookings are no different.  

‘Unfortunately, many restaurants are still behind in offering online bookings, and Requests by Dineplan goes a long way to provide an immediate and efficient solution to this demand. 

‘Our longer-term goal is that we can convert many of the restaurants using the free Requests by Dineplan platform onto one of the paid-for packages that Dineplan offers, however, there is no obligation for a restaurant to upgrade,’ Whitfield said. 

About Dineplan 

Dineplan founders Martin Rose and Greg Whitfield started the reservation software company in Cape Town in 2011, developing back-end software for restaurants to use as their electronic reservation book. 

This would later enable instant bookings to diners via the Dineplan booking widget on restaurant clients’ websites.

In February this year, the company launched the consumer-based Dineplan App, enabling app users to make instant or request bookings at 1000s of restaurants across South Africa from their mobile phones.

The app allows users to search restaurants by availability, name and area, as well as to create lists of their favourite restaurants, browse opening hours, customer ratings, and research different cuisines on offer.

Diners can even share reservation information with fellow diners, which includes Google Map locations.Today, more than 20 000 bookings are made across the Dineplan network every day.

Celebrate the most romantic day of the year with a delectable Valentine’s dinner at The Plettenberg, which begins at 18h30, on 14 February 2018. Share a special moment with your significant other while enjoying the magnificent views over the Indian Ocean.

 The Menu at ‘SeaFood’ restaurant will be a feast for the senses starting off with Knysna Oysters & L’Ormarins Brut, Beetroot Cured Salmon Gravadlax, Basil compressed apple, caviar cream, bagel crisps, cucumber & beetroot salad, or opt for, a Duo of Goat’s Cheese, Stuffed marrow flowers, pine nut crusted, goat’s cheese truffle, courgette & tomato salad, Mango & Ginger Sorbet, Lemongrass Glazed Fermosa Bay Line Fish, Coconut beurre blanc, steamed pak choi, sesame seed prawns.

Alternatively, you could also opt for the Wild Madagascar Pepper Beef Fillet served with Duck fat potatoes, kale pesto, purple beans, and caramelised onion puree. Dessert for Two will consist of White coffee brûlée, litchi & lime meringue, lavender & pink gin granita, dark chocolate & vanilla kisses.

Finally, Coffee & Tea will be served to round off your delectable meal. 

SeaFood at THE PLETTENBERG

40 Church St, Plettenberg Bay 

For more information or bookings contact:

theplettenberghotel.com

044 332 030

Valentine's Day cherishes love and romance, and is a day to celebrate your partner. 

GLAD has a few handy hints and ideas to help make your Valentine’s day that little bit better.

When the weather is fine, plan a romantic picnic!

• Pack a picnic basket using snacky foods that you can enjoy under the sun or stars; use GLAD Zip Seal Snack Bags to store them in to keep the pesky ants out and to keep the food germ-free
• Keep your refreshments cool using GLAD Ice Cube Bags in your cooler box – you can also take out the hygienically sealed ice blocks to use in your drinks once you’ve opened and poured the drinks
• Wrap plates of food in Cling Wrap to keep everything from spilling or messing
• Keep salad dressing or sauces in a small GLAD Zip Seal Snack Bags. To serve, simply snip the corner of the bag and pour!
• Use large GLAD Zip Seal Freezer Bags to put dirty dishes and cutlery in so that there is less mess at the end of the evening
• GLAD WaveTop Tie Citrus Fresh Scented Bags are perfect for cleaning up mess after a picnic - the WaveTop Ties let you easily and hygienically close the bag and the citrus fresh scent helps control odours for the car ride home

Making a nice dinner?

• Use GLAD Bake & Cooking paper to wrap meat, chicken or fish in individual ‘parcels’ to bake or steam – be creative and use different herbs and spice it up!
• A heathy, low-fat way to cook is to use GLAD Bake & Cooking Paper over the pan, between the food and the pan. It has a special non-stick coating that eliminates the need for fats and oils. It also saves you pan-scrubbing time

Time for a little dessert!

• Wrap and seal chocolate chips and crushed nuts in GLAD Press’n Seal, keeping them in the fridge/freezer. They are kept fresh and ready to sprinkle over chocolate desserts and ice creams.
• Make chocolate dipped strawberries and refrigerate on a plat or tray lined with GLAD Bake & Cooking Paper to stop them from sticking

GLAD is happy to help on all special occasions and fits in to every space, time and budget!

GLAD – Save good food. From going bad.