Why every restaurant needs a virtual tour

Eating out at a restaurant is truly one of life's great pleasures.  But it's true to say that the whole dining out experience is not just about food but that the 'ambience' of the restaurant also ranks highly when people are looking for a great place to eat out.

Whether it's a romantic meal for two, or a gathering for friends, finding a restaurant with the right 'feel' is often as important as the food itself!  As such, we've seen a huge upsurge in restaurants tempting people through the door, not just with sumptuous menus, but by providing would-be punters with a unique immersive opportunity to 'walk through' their premises from the comfort of their own home by using a unique virtual tour to market their offering.

Once such local restaurant is the St Villa Cocktail Bar and Restaurant, in St Albans, who have used one of our unique 3D Virtual Tours (shown above) to showcase their premises to potential customers.  And others are following suit too.

So, if you own or run a restaurant too, then read on to find out why we believe every restaurant needs a 3D virtual tour as part of the marketing mix for their business.

1. Potential customers research restaurants online before visiting

It's a fact that 70-80% of people research a restaurant online before visiting.  So if you can provide them with a unique opportunity to enjoy an immersive walk-through first, it's guaranteed to help you win more business. If potential customers can immersive themselves in the venue prior to visiting then that's a great way to get them heading through the door and booking a real-life visit.

2. Virtual tours can increase customer reservations

A virtual tour is more than just a walkthrough - it's a tool to help convert bookings.  In addition to providing users with an impressive walkthrough, a virtual tour allows you to add and showcase menus, link to customer reviews, embed videos, outline details of special offers and also allow people to see table locations so customers can book their favourite space too.  All guaranteed to help increase customer reservations with a virtual tour.

3. It's easy to create a buzz on social media with virtual tours

Social media is huge in terms of promoting your restaurant and for many owners it is the go-to channel when it comes to marketing their business. And the great news is that virtual tours provide you with great content for these channels as they provide a unique level of interactivity that people love.  Even if you don't have a website (Note: you should have one but that's another article for another day!) people love interacting on social media.  And what better way to do that than to share a link to a unique 3D virtual tour of your restaurant! Previous diners can relive the dining experience while new ones can look forward to experiencing it.

4. Virtual tours keep people on your website 5-10X longer and Google loves them too

It's a documented fact that the interactivity of virtual tours keeps people engaged on websites 5-10 times longer than they may do on sites without a virtual tour.  And that's a big positive tick for your website and website visitors.  Add to that, Google loves sites that provide great content and a great user experience for consumers so a virtual tour provides real value for your site and for search engines and users alike.

5. Millennials are more likely to book based on a virtual tour

A survey by Matterport suggested that 18-34 year olds are 130% more likely to book a venue, hotel or use a service if the business has a virtual tour.  And the Covid pandemic has reinforced the use of technology by people to interact virtually too.  People like to feel they know about places they are visiting so using a virtual tour to get those millennials through your restaurant door is a must.

We hope that these points help you to recognise the benefit of creating a virtual tour for your restaurant.  If you'd like further information on how we could help bring your restaurant to life then Contact Us and we'll be happy to help.  You can also check out our Frequently Asked Questions ot take a look at other 3D Virtual Tour examples too.