Guests can make bookings themselves online, but often you need to add a booking manually, for example with walk-in guests or for people who email or phone. The main way to create manual bookings is with the Schedule tool.
Fresto distinguishes between walk-ins, where the guest is physically present in your venue so only a name is required, and bookings, which also require a phone number.
If you have the Fresto POS, walk-ins can be created automatically when you place an order for a Location. This keeps the online booking system up to date and avoids problems of overbooking.
The Schedule view
Navigation bar: Booking Page: Schedule |
The Schedule tool is the main way for you and your staff to create bookings and walk-ins.
At the top you will see the current date and time, together with the weather forecast. If you click on the date, you can choose a different day.
Below the date, you see a list of the Floor Plans that you have created.
For each Floor Plan, you will see your Locations listed, together with the capacity showing how many people fit there. If you click the Location you will see which other Locations it can be combined with, for example when you combine two tables for a larger party.
Create a booking for a walk-in guest
Walk-ins are a kind of same-day booking. Since the guest is already physically present in your venue, the process is very simple.
Navigation bar: Booking Page: Schedule |
If necessary, click the date and select today.
Each rectangle inside the timeline is a slot where you can create a booking. Click the one that corresponds to the Floor Plan and Location you would like to book for your walk-in guests. To help with orientation, the vertical dotted line corresponds to the time now.
In the dialog, make sure to select the Walk-in tab. You can change the seating duration and the number of guests, and indicate the Location the guest will occupy. You can select more than one Location if they are combinable. If the customer is registered with you, you can click the Customer button to search for their details.
Click Book to create the walk-in booking. The dialog closes and you can see the booking on the timeline.
Create a booking for any future time or date
This process is very similar to creating a booking for a walk-in, but requires contact information. Follow these steps:
Navigation bar: Booking Page: Schedule |
Click on the date and select the day when your guests would like to book.
Click the slot that corresponds to the Floor Plan and Location you would like to book for your guest.
In the dialog, make sure to select the Booking tab if it is visible. You can change the seating duration and the number of guests, and indicate the Location the guest will occupy. You can select more than one Location if they are combinable. If the customer is registered with you, you can click the Customer button to search for their details. You must also provide a name and phone number for the guest, and, optionally, an email.
Click Book to create the booking. The dialog closes and you can see the booking on the timeline.
💡 You can use the six dots on the left of a booking bar to drag it to a different table or a different time. If you drag it over another booking, you are asked if you would like to swap the two.
Add guests to the waitlist
If a Location is not available for a guest, you can add them to the waitlist, so you can contact them should a spot open up. Follow these steps:
Navigation bar: Booking Page: Schedule |
Click on the date and select the day when your guests would like to book.
Click on the Add guests to waitlist button.
In the dialog, fill in the relevant details for the guest, and click Add guests to save.
You can see how many people are in the waitlist as it is displayed in the Waitlist button in the Schedule and List view tabs. Click on the button to see the waitlisted guests' details.
When you create a booking manually, you have the option of taking a guest from the waitlist. In the booking dialog, simply click on the Add guest from waitlist button at the top and select the guest.