What can we learn from the Dimmi Dining Index 2015?

Each year, online restaurant reservation service Dimmi releases an update on the state of Australian hospitality, and the trends associated with the industry. Last year we saw a 5.7 per cent growth in the market, and the average spend maintained a steady pace at around $53.

So how have we fared this time around now that the 2015 edition has been released?

2015 hospitality industry trends

Average growth was unfortunately not as positive this time around, with every state except New South Wales and South Australia dropping a bit. The average growth sat at -2.4 per cent, though NSW rose by 0.2 per cent and SA by a whopping 7.6 per cent individually.

One of the most exciting trends from the report surrounds mobile technology. Once upon a time, we might have booked our favourite restaurants while on the phone or at a computer. However, this may soon be no longer the case. Upward of 52 per cent of all online bookings were made from a mobile device, and online bookings themselves took up 36 per cent of all reservations made.

Take charge of 2016 with new catering equipment

The average spend also rose, and major corporations are dining out more than they used to. In addition, though Aussies are eating out less, they are spending more – shown perhaps most obviously when you look at the fact that fine dining (categorised as costing over $85 per head) is on the up.

This means your restaurant, cafe or other food business needs to be ready to cater to the changing customer. If people are willing to spend more on high-quality premium dining, it could be worth upgrading your commercial kitchen equipment to suit.

Do you currently utilise high-quality, intelligent combination ovens such as those by Convotherm? These machines would make an excellent addition to your business, offering a versatile cooking experience that is easy to use.