Here are some predictions of things to come from futurists, techies and forward-looking restaurateurs. It's hard to conceive of operating a restaurant today without having a phone to take reservations, to give directions to customers and to order items from suppliers. Just as the telephone became an essential communication tool for restaurants in the 20th century, the Internet is expected to become indispensable in the 21st century. Online is here to stay. Red Robin International is among the companies considering online commerce for carryout items.
Some restaurants already use the Internet to accept reservations.
Clients receive a computer system designed to manage all of their reservations. Online reservations go directly into the computer sys tem. Nevertheless, some industry leaders dislike online reservations. For example, Darwin Davis, director of management information services for the Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa in Sonoma, California, says that he doesn't expect his resort to accept online reservations anytime soon. There are other things that we try to sell you on when you call, like spa treatments.