London restaurants are turning to a new app which allows users to experience their venues online in an effort to fix poor customer turnout.
MeAttend, created by entrepreneur Tyrone Reid, 38, aims to re-energise the London hospitality industry by offering businesses new and interactive ways in which to connect with customers.
The app utilises online streaming to give users the chance to view restaurants, bars and clubs in real time so they can make up their own mind, without having to rely on reviews and recommendations alone.
Reid said: “The purpose of the app is to create memories for people.
“Most of the time, when you go out there’s always a problem with either the venue not being the same vibe as it used to be, or it might have closed down, or it might be really popular and always fully booked so you can never get in.
“I was very frustrated using Google and other websites when I was trying to find simple information about restaurants and bars.
“So, I came up with the concept of MeAttend in order to more successfully facilitate this process.”
London’s hospitality industry is still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, with the independent sector now 15.9% smaller than it was before March 2020 according to a report by the BBC.
Reid believes the pandemic is the main cause behind the cities declining venues.
He said: “Covid was the catalyst because it caused companies to not be able to survive on their own.
“Then, post-pandemic, you saw businesses in the hospitality sector having to compromise on pricing and quality because of the impact on the UK economy.”
Reid believes his app will not only benefit businesses and customers, but improve area economies across London.
MeAttend is free to download, but users pay £3 per online viewing of a venue and businesses will then get to keep 60% of the profits.
The revenue made from these viewings will allow venues to put more investment into their establishments which he hopes will in turn will pour more money into their respective high streets.
Businesses wishing to use the app are offered a four-month free trial to feature live streams and other interactive forms of content before paying the minimum service fee, which is currently priced between £400 and £1,500.
Reid said: “The reason why we want to provide three to four months of free usage for businesses is because I know the UK’s hospitality sector is still not as strong as it was before Covid.
“So, I want businesses to feel happy before signing up to the app.”
The app is already being welcomed by restaurants across London such of Zebrano in Soho and Aces Brunch in Croydon.
Reid hopes MeAttend’s reach will continue to expand and is encouraged by how quickly the app has gained traction among London businesses.
He said: “We’ve already got a few companies on board and at the moment were showing them how the app can be used, how they can utilize it and how effective it can be.”
It’s not just growth in London which Reid has set his sights on, expressing an interest in expanding internationally over time.
He said: “Longer term, I would like to expand to places like Europe, Dubai and America where the app can help showcase their hospitality industry and other tourist attractions.”
Meanwhile, as the UK hospitality sector attempts to bounce back from the economic turbulence of the past five years, MeAttend will no doubt offer some hope for businesses trying to adapt to an increasingly digital marketplace.
Feature image: Free to use from Unsplash
