Marketing

Tripadvisor launches online management platform for restaurants

Provided

October 7, 2020

Tripadvisor has launched Menu Connect, an online listings management solution that allows restaurants to publish, update and manage their menu and business information across sites. Menu Connect uses SinglePlatform's technology, acquired by last year by Tripadvisor, according to a company press release.

"With the abundance of day-to-day responsibilities restaurant owners face, marketing and updating business information online is the last thing on owners' minds, yet it is often the deciding factor for diners looking for somewhere to eat," Martin Verdon-Roe, general manager of hospitality solutions at Tripadvisor, said in the release. "Menu Connect is a simple solution to make restaurateurs' life easier so that they can spend less time behind the computer and more time serving their guests a fantastic dining experience."

Why menu management matters

For restaurants, the accuracy of information online, particularly menu information, is crucial to attracting new diners. A recent study found that 80% of consumers lost trust in local businesses if they saw incorrect or inconsistent information posted online. Updating menus all over the internet, however, takes time that busy restaurateurs don't have, especially now as they implement creative health and cleanliness measures to safely welcome back guests, Verdon-Roe said.

Menu Connect takes one task off their plate: syndicating the information diners search for about a restaurant — including its location, hours, photos and menus — across the internet to many popular restaurant discovery sites and apps, including Tripadvisor, Google, Yelp and more. Restaurateurs can use Menu Connect to view, add or change their menu, see a list of websites where their menu has been published, and even update the menu information displayed on their restaurant's own website, all from one platform.

Once a restaurant sets up Menu Connect, they may also gain access to unique insights such as the total volume of menu views across all websites where their menu is featured, including a breakdown of new and returning customers in the past 30 days, according to the release.

There are over 27,000 restaurants using this solution. To start utilizing Menu Connect, restaurateurs need only confirm their listing details and upload their menu to Tripadvisor. Then they may choose either a monthly or annual payment plan.

Menu Connect comes on the heels of another offering aimed at helping restaurants safely welcome guests and save money: Contactless Menus. The free product allows restaurants to create a menu QR code on Tripadvisor to download and place throughout their restaurant, minimizing the staff and guest contact found with standard reusable menus, according to the release.