5 min read

Holiday Season Staffing Shortages: How Automation Helps Restaurants Stay Fully Booked

• by Jay Ruparel
• November 26, 2025
• Blog

November officially kicks off the holiday rush in the U.S. — family dinners, office parties, and festive nights out. For most restaurants, it’s one of the busiest periods of the year. But it’s also when staffing shortages hit the hardest. The phones ring nonstop, reservation inquiries stack up, and large-party bookings take longer to manage, all while the team is stretched thin.

This combination often leads to missed calls, slowed-down service, and lost revenue at a time when every table matters.

That’s why many operators have started leaning on automation tools, especially AI-backed phone answering and reservation systems to keep things running smoothly without adding more pressure on short-staffed teams. Some have even adopted solutions like ReserveVoice — the VoicePlug + OpenTable integration — to streamline holiday reservation handling without disrupting existing workflows.

Why Holiday Staffing Shortages Disrupt Reservations

1. Call volume spikes

Guests call to check availability, adjust group sizes, confirm holiday menus, and secure bookings earlier than usual. Many call during peak dining hours.

2. Fewer staff members available

Operators often rely on seasonal help, but the holiday labor pool is smaller every year. Hosts and managers end up juggling too much.

3. Missed calls = lost reservations

A missed call in November or December often becomes a lost table — and most guests won’t call back.

4. Large groups need more coordination

Holiday parties, office dinners, and extended-family gatherings require more back-and-forth than standard bookings.

All of this creates bottlenecks that automation can help remove.

How Automation Supports Restaurants During the Holidays

1. 24/7 reservation coverage

Guests book late at night, during commute hours, or right after holiday plans are made.
Automation ensures reservations are captured around the clock — even when the host stand is short-staffed or the line is busy.

2. No more missed calls

AI systems instantly pick up calls, answer questions, and help guests secure tables without waiting on hold.
Operators using platforms like VoicePlug’s automated reservation handling often see dramatic drops in abandoned calls during the holiday season.

3. Cleaner table management

Automation updates availability in real time, reducing double-bookings or timing conflicts — a common issue when teams are overloaded.

4. Fewer no-shows

Automated reminders help ensure guests confirm or adjust their plans. During the holidays, this alone can save multiple tables a night.

5. Less pressure on small teams

At 1–5 location restaurants, the same few people must answer phones, seat guests, run food, and manage the rush.
Automation steps in to handle repetitive tasks so staff can stay focused on hospitality and service.

Why Operators Are Adopting AI Reservation Tools Right Now

This shift isn’t about replacing people — it’s about protecting revenue during the busiest and most unpredictable time of year. The holiday rush comes with:

• Higher online booking activity
  
• More multi-course dinners
  
• More large groups
  
• Shorter labor availability
  

Tools like ReserveVoice (powered by VoicePlug and OpenTable) help operators automate call handling and reservation capture without changing their front-of-house process. This gives restaurants a smoother, more dependable reservation flow when it’s needed most.

FAQs

1. Do guests trust AI for reservations?

Most guests simply want a fast, accurate response — especially during the holidays. If the reservation is confirmed instantly, they’re satisfied. Many don’t even realize an AI tool handled the call.

2. Will automation replace my host or front-of-house team?

No. Automation handles the repetitive work (answering phones, confirming reservations, sending reminders). Your team focuses on hospitality, service, and the in-person experience.

3. Can automation handle large-party bookings?

Yes. Most AI-powered systems can capture headcount, time preferences, special requests, and relay them back to your staff for approval if needed.

4. How does automation reduce no-shows?

By sending timely reminders and confirmations. Guests either confirm, modify, or cancel — giving you better control over your dining room.

5. What if a guest wants to speak to a real person?

Systems like VoicePlug can automatically transfer the call to the restaurant when needed, so guests always have the option to speak with staff. ReserveVoice follows the same approach, offering quick automation with a human fallback whenever required.