Run the waitlist and seat walk-ins

A guest is waiting for a table, or wants a time that's full.

1. 1Click the clock icon next to the Reservations heading at the top of the list (Add to waitlist). (Or, in New Reservation, click the clock icon beside the title.)
2. 2Type the phone number in Phone lookup and pick the guest, or type First name and Last name.
3. 3Choose a Wait type: Walk-in or Reserve Time.For Walk-in, set Estimated wait in minutes (1 to 240, default 20). For Reserve Time, set the time they'd like.
4. 4Set Covers, and add any notes or allergies.
5. 5Click Add to waitlist.

The guest appears in the Waitlist block with their quoted wait, marked Waiting.

• First name, last name and phone are required.
• Adding to the waitlist needs a connection.

If this doesn't work: If the button is grey, the service may be closed, or the time you chose has already passed.

Update the wait you quoted, for example from 20 to 30 minutes.

1. 1Find the guest's card in the Waitlist block.
2. 2Change the number in Estimated wait.
3. 3Click away from the box to save.

Send the "your table is ready" text or email.

1. 1Give the guest a table first (see Give a waitlist guest a table).
2. 2Click the speech-bubble icon on their card.
3. 3Choose Table ready and click Send.

• Giving a guest a table doesn't text them by itself; send Table ready when you're ready for them.
• If they haven't agreed to texts, the message box can show a QR code (Show SMS consent QR) for them to scan.

A table opened up for someone on the waitlist.

1. 1On the guest's card, click Give a table (Walk-in) or Confirm Availability (Reserve Time).
2. 2Click the table(s) on the floorplan.
3. 3Click Done.

The guest becomes a reservation on that table and their booking opens. Seat them with Seat Now when they sit down.

• To back out before choosing, click the same button again (it now reads Cancel).

Seat a waiting guest at their table.

1. 1Give them a table (Give a table, pick the table, Done).
2. 2Click Seat Now in their booking, or the green chair icon on their card.

They left, or found a table elsewhere.

1. 1Click Leave on their card in the Waitlist block.

They're removed and it counts as a cancellation.

Guests who asked online for a time that was full show up in the Waitlist too.

1. 1Open the Waitlist block and look for cards marked Online request.

• Hostbook watches for a table and books them if one opens up. You can only remove these with Leave.

A party walks in and there's a free table.

1. 1On the floorplan, click the free table to open its menu.
2. 2Click Seat walk-in.
3. 3Tap the party size.

The table shows the walk-in party as seated.

• For a big party, click the link icon beside Seat walk-in first and pick several tables (see Floorplan).
• You can also click an empty slot on the Reservation Book and choose Seat walk-in.
• There's no walk-in button on the reservation list; use the floorplan, the Reservation Book, or the waitlist.

Undo a walk-in on the wrong table.

1. 1Open the walk-in's booking (click its card).
2. 2Click Remove Walk-in at the bottom.

• Walk-in seats can't be undone with the Undo button.