As part of an effort to help restaurant diners navigate changing restrictions in different parts of the country, OpenTable, provider of online restaurant reservations, has rolled out updated safety precautions including details on COVID-19 vaccine requirements and direct messaging capabilities.
The direct messaging capability allows diners to communicate directly with a restaurant to get answers to questions about proof of vaccination requirements, for instance. Over 1,500 restaurants on OpenTable are using this feature.
Restaurants can also display COVID-19 vaccine requirements to diners, allowing up-front communication about what people can expect before dining in. OpenTable will soon launch a national list, updated in real-time, of restaurants currently requiring proof of vaccination.
"Dining demand in the U.S. is down 13% compared to just one month earlier with cities like Minneapolis, Seattle and New York showing significant declines. Just as restaurants were starting to rebound from a devastating 2020 - the Delta variant and ever-changing mandates come as another hurdle," said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, in a statement. "Our hope is that these new tools make it easier for restaurants to continue to welcome people in and help diners feel safe and informed about dining out."
The announcement comes days after New York City announced that it will require proof of vaccination for those dining indoors, beginning August 16.
Related: NYC to Require Proof of Vaccination to Dine Indoors; OpenTable Helps Consumers Navigate Dining Out.