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Reservations grew by 15% compared to 2024
This increase confirms that more and more people are choosing to celebrate special occasions such as Mother's Day at restaurants, reinforcing the fundamental role of the hospitality sector in family gatherings and memorable experiences. Key highlights include:
- More than 700,000 diners were served and over 200,000 reservations and walk-ins were recorded.
- 2 out of every 3 tables were reserved.
- Madrid, the leading city with more than 75,000 reservations.
Families take centre stage
Group reservations accounted for 57% of the total (compared to approximately 48% on a typical day). Notable is the prevalence of bookings for groups of 3 and 4 (19% and 18% of the total respectively), while bookings for couples stood at around 43%, confirming that Mother's Day is celebrated primarily as a family occasion.
Google gains prominence as an online channel
Google is consolidating its position as a key channel for online reservations, contributing 34% of all bookings, while 58% came directly through restaurants' own websites. Overall, a commanding 92% of online reservations came through direct channels, leaving only 8% in the hands of third-party platforms. This marks a clear trend: diners prefer the simplicity and immediacy of booking directly with the restaurant. If you haven't yet activated your Google booking button, now is the time!
Reservations made further in advance
Planning ahead was the hallmark of this Mother's Day. Only 42% of reservations were made on the day, compared to the 51% typically recorded on a normal day. This indicates that customers planned their meals further ahead, securing a table at their favourite restaurants with days (or even weeks) to spare. This tendency to book earlier gives restaurants greater predictability when managing their service on a high-demand date.
Lunch, the preferred time to celebrate
The lunchtime service was the clear star of Mother's Day. 67% of all reservations for the day were concentrated during lunch, well above the 52% that is typical on an ordinary day. This reflects the preference of Spanish families to gather at lunchtime to celebrate with Mum. Many restaurants were fully booked at midday, while the dinner service saw comparatively reduced footfall.
What does all this tell us?
- Planning ahead is key: on special occasions, diners book earlier. It's important that your restaurant is prepared, opening your diary and encouraging bookings in advance.
- Focus on the direct channel: the majority of reservations come through the restaurant's own website or Google. Focus your efforts on these direct channels to maximise results.
- Prepayment and reconfirmation work: securing bookings with a deposit or requesting prior confirmation drastically reduces no-shows on key dates.
Family focus at lunchtime: adapt your offering and operations for family groups during lunch, as this service concentrates the highest demand at celebrations such as Mother's Day.
