While hotels obsess over decor, service and breakfast spreads, many overlook a quieter battleground: being more effective at getting guests to dine at the hotel in the first place.

Across the UK, restaurants outnumber hotels five to one.

In London, a guest can find over 150 restaurants within a ten-minute walk.

Even smaller destinations like Chester or Bath offer 40 to 80 alternatives.

Deloitte’s Leisure Sector Tracker shows eating-out spend rose by more than four points this year. Guests still want to dine, just not necessarily in their hotel.

At Biteluxe, we’ve seen that winning this battle is not about better menus.

It is about better messaging.

1. Static Messages No Longer Move the Needle

Many hotels still copy and paste promotions from emails. They look professional but they're not necessarily persuasive.

Static messages feel out of place inside WhatsApp. Guests treat them like ads, not conversations.

Our data from more than 8,000 conversations shows static messages get around 8% response rates - which is great versus email - but when we start a real conversation, replies rise to 30%.

Conversations feel natural. Guests are already in a space where they chat with friends, so they respond instinctively.

2. Timing and Context Create Relevance

Dining decisions happen in seconds. When hunger strikes, guests go for the easiest option.

Hotels that message before arrival influence that choice early. Pre-arrival prompts reach around 70%-80% of guests, and we have clever ways to get that figure even higher.

The goal is not to sell. It is to plant intent before they open Google Maps.

3. Clarity Builds Confidence

Guests do not read long messages. They skim and act fast.

Simple, direct phrasing works best. “Would you like us to hold you a table?” or “What time would you like to dine?” invites an easy reply.

This tone assumes interest and makes action effortless.

4. Familiarity Drives Trust

People follow what feels familiar. “Guests are loving tonight’s terrace BBQ” performs better than “Book dinner with us tonight.”

Social cues reassure guests that they are making a good choice.

5. Friction Kills Action

“Call reception to book” stops momentum. A quick link or a staff follow-up keeps it alive.

The smoother the path, the higher the conversion.

Final Thought

The problem is not that guests avoid dining in. It is that hotels still talk at them instead of talking with them.

WhatsApp is where guests already feel comfortable. When hotels start conversations that feel personal and easy, guests naturally say yes.

At Biteluxe, we design those conversations. Psychology-led WhatsApp messaging that turns casual guests into in-house diners without adding work for your team.

Curious how it could work for your property? Let’s chat.