Uber + OpenTable details, finally
Told you so?
Uber’s finally sharing details of its partnership with OpenTable. Later this fall, it’ll debut some OpenTable tie-ins inside the Uber Eats app.
The companies jointly announced a partnership in early April, issuing a press release with a lot of words but little substance. Today, as part of Uber’s annual Go-Get product release, the company shared details about how it plans to integrate the restaurant reservations service. Diners can expect the functionality to show up “this fall.” (Requisite vagueness!)
OpenTable CEO Debby Soo offered little detail on the deal when I asked for it last month. But I did take it kindly that in her emailed response she added, “Was hoping I’d get a note from you!”
Maybe that’s because Expedite loves to speculate? Turns out the predictions I shared a month ago were mostly correct. Here’s a look at what to expect from Uber + OpenTable as the partnership rolls out:
Expedite expectation: Restaurant reservations inside Uber’s app
Reality: Close!
Uber will add a “dine out” tab to its Uber Eats app later this year that includes deals and reservations. Diners can also find rides to dinner (or breakfast, or lunch, or happy hour) inside the app.
The reservations + delivery service business is heating up quickly; last week DoorDash announced its impending acquisition of SevenRooms, a reservations and customer relationship management platform, for $1.2 billion.
Expectation: Special treatment for Uber One subscribers
Reality: Yes!
Subscribers to Uber One, the company’s loyalty program that includes waived delivery fees and discounts on rides, will get priority access to hot reservations; the latest example of paying for access to good restaurant tables. OpenTable currently offers priority access to some Visa premium cardholders as part of its deal with the credit card company.
Status goes the other way, too. OpenTable VIP users, a designation that’s easy enough to achieve if you go out to dinner even periodically, get a six-month free trial with Uber One.
(In mid-April, the Federal Trade Commission sued Uber, alleging deceptive billing practices related to Uber One subscriptions. At the time, a rep for Uber said the company was “disappointed” but confident it would prevail in court.)
Expectation: Delivery deals
Reality: Kinda.
This was my only miss. The only delivery detail mentioned in today’s announcement is the six-month Uber One trial, which comes with $0 delivery fees on some Uber Eats orders. (Might OpenTable soon announce more delivery deals from its side of the agreement?)
Expectation: A more practical implication for all those OpenTable dining points you’re collecting
Reality: Expectations exceeded!
Uber is moving to recognize OpenTable points as a form of currency on Uber and Uber Eats. Per today’s announcement, app users will be able to redeem OpenTable points inside both apps.
OpenTable’s points system feels like a relic of its earliest days. Years ago, diners were automatically awarded points for booking reservations. After reaching a certain threshold, they were issued a “dining cheque” good for a discount at OpenTable restaurants. This was, for a shockingly long time, a physical certificate that came in the mail. The program was (finally) discontinued in 2023, but OpenTable kept its points, allowing diners to opt in to receive and later redeem them for things like Amazon gift cards.
Uber didn’t share exactly how or how many points it’ll take to redeem any sort of value inside its apps, but this might be the most useful OpenTable points application in the company’s history.
Related content:
OpenTable and Uber partner
This week started with a big announcement from OpenTable: It’s launching a strategic partnership with Uber in the US and abroad. The announcement is light on details but heavy on buzzwords.
What else?
There are some great restaurant tech milestones inside the New York Times’ restaurant timeline of the last 25 years. Among them, the NYC launch of Yelp (2004), the advent of the 24-hour restaurant news news cycle with back-to-back launches of Eater and Grubstreet, and the installation of the Shake Cam, a webcam to monitor the line at the original Shake Shack location in Madison Square Park (2006ish). It also includes more modern milestones, including Resy’s 2014 launch and the recent rise of TikTok in restaurants. — New York Times
Also in New York, DoorDash gave $1 million to support former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s bid for NYC mayor. According to Politico, it’s the “single largest donation in the race.” New York has tried (and in many cases, failed) to enact legislation regulating big delivery companies. The city holds its Democratic primary on June 24. — Politico
Airbnb’s so-called “midlife crisis” reinvention includes private chefs inside a new “services” category. Every app wants to do everything now. — Wired
DoorDash announced airborne drone delivery with Alphabet-owned Wing in Charlotte, NC. It announced the partnership alongside a deal; customers in the delivery radius can get $1 mac & cheese delivered from Panera via drone for a limited time. Charlotte is DoorDash’s third US market offering airborne delivery with Wing. — release
Online ordering and restaurant website company Owner.com hit unicorn status. The company raised a $120 million round of Series C funding at a $1 billion valuation. Investors include the CEOs of fast casual darlings Sweetgreen and Cava. — Restaurant Business
Hostie, a voice AI company for restaurants, raised $4 million in seed funding led by Gradient. Hostie was previously featured in this newsletter under its former name, Maitre D AI.