Access Denied: The Rise of Black-Market Reservations Disrupting the Restaurant Dining Experience

According to a recent survey by the National Restaurant Association, third-party websites are causing an increase in dining costs for consumers, higher rates of no-shows, and potential harm to restaurant brands. The black market for restaurant reservations has expanded nationwide, facilitated by technology that allows individuals and companies to acquire reservations from legitimate sources and resell them on unauthorized platforms. This practice is leading to operational difficulties for restaurants, such as dealing with costly no-shows and managing customer expectations from third-party reservations. Customers are also facing challenges as these third-party reservations are making dining out more expensive and difficult. The survey found that a significant number of diners are aware of these unauthorized reservation sites and have been charged for reservations. Consumers and restaurants alike are expressing concerns about the negative impact of these practices, with many supporting legislation to address the issue and give control back to restaurants. Several states have already taken steps to regulate third-party reservation sites, with more states considering similar measures. Restaurant industry advocates emphasize the importance of restoring control over reservations to restaurants to ensure a fair system that benefits both customers and businesses.