The effect of meal pace on customer satisfaction

Breffni M. Noone, Sheryl E. Kimes, Anna S. Mattila, Jochen Wirtz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

Restaurant operators who seek to increase table turns during peak periods may want to speed up the meal's pace. However, excessive speed may make customers feel rushed. A survey of 218 respondents found that too fast a pace does affect customer satisfaction with the meal experience, with fine-dining customers more sensitive to pacing issues than customers in casual or upscale casual restaurants. Regardless of restaurant type, too fast a pace during the meal itself diminishes customer satisfaction, but speed during check settlement is often appreciated. The effects on customer satisfaction of the pace of welcome, seating, and taking drink orders depend partly on the type of restaurant and on the meal type. Guests at fine-dining restaurants do not want these preprocess events to be rushed. Additionally, a faster pace during these preprocess events at dinner diminished satisfaction ratings as compared to lunch.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)231-244
Number of pages14
JournalCornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly
Volume48
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management

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