New SMS Features to Keep Your Restaurant Guests in the Loop

Running a restaurant means juggling a lot of moving parts — reservations, table management, staff schedules, menu changes, and the occasional “Oops, we’re fully booked!” moment. One thing you shouldn’t have to worry about is whether your guests know what’s happening with their bookings.

That’s why the SMS notification features in the Five Star Restaurant Reservations WordPress plugin have been such a game-changer for restaurant owners. And now, we’ve made them even better with two new tools to make your texts more personal, professional, and cost-effective:

• Custom Alphanumeric Sender ID (so your texts show your restaurant name instead of a random phone number)
• SMS Character Count Warning (so you can avoid sending multiple messages — and using extra credits — by accident)

Let’s take a closer look.

A Quick Recap: SMS Notifications in the Plugin

If you’re using the Ultimate version of the Five Star Restaurant Reservations WordPress plugin, you already know you can send SMS notifications for key booking events — not just emails.

The notifications table in your dashboard makes it easy to:

• Send messages when a booking is pending, confirmed, rejected, or cancelled
• Notify both customers and admins instantly
• Trigger special events like:
  • Reservation Reminders (to reduce no-shows)
  • Late for Reservation alerts
  • Post-Reservation follow-ups (perfect for review requests)

And the best part? You can fully customize the message for each event, set the timing, and choose whether it goes to you, your staff, or the guest.

This means you can do things like:

• Send a friendly “Looking forward to seeing you tonight at 7 PM!” message a few hours before a booking.
• Let a guest know if you’ve adjusted their table or time.
• Remind yourself (or your host) instantly when a new booking comes in — even if you’re not in the restaurant.

The New Features: More Control, More Clarity

1. Custom “From” Name for SMS (Alphanumeric Sender ID)

Previously, SMS notifications came from a generic phone number. Guests would get your message but might wonder, “Who is this from?”

Now, you can set a custom sender ID — like PastaPalace or SushiHouse — so your restaurant name appears as the sender instead of a random number.

Why this matters:

• Looks more professional
• Builds trust with your guests
• Increases open/read rates for your messages

Note: Some regions have restrictions on alphanumeric sender IDs, so if your messages don’t display the custom name, they’ll default to the standard number.

2. SMS Character Count Warning

SMS messages aren’t unlimited — they’re measured in characters. If your text goes over the limit, it’s sent as multiple messages, which uses more SMS credits.

With the new character count warning, you’ll see exactly how long your message is as you type it, so you can trim it down before hitting send.

Why this matters:

• Saves SMS credits (especially if you send a lot of messages)
• Keeps your messages short, clear, and to the point
• Avoids accidentally sending a 3-part text when one would do

The Pros and Cons of SMS for Reservations

Pros:

✅ Instant delivery – Guests see texts faster than emails
✅ Reduced no-shows – Timely reminders keep people on schedule
✅ Better engagement – People are more likely to read and respond to texts
✅ Admin alerts – Staff can react quickly to last-minute changes

Cons:

⚠ Credit limits – Each message uses credits (5000 included annually in Ultimate; more can be purchased)
⚠ International rates – Some countries use more credits per message
⚠ Regulatory limits – Some regions restrict custom sender IDs

Tips for Getting the Most Out of SMS Notifications

• Keep it short & sweet – SMS is best for quick updates, not long conversations.
• Be personal – Use the guest’s name and booking details for a friendly touch.
• Set smart triggers – Reminders a few hours before dining work better than a day in advance.
• Track your credits – Your SMS credit balance is displayed right in the plugin.

A Better Guest Experience, One Text at a Time

Whether you’re confirming a booking, reminding guests of their table, or asking for feedback after their meal, SMS notifications help you keep your restaurant running smoothly and your guests feeling cared for.

With the new sender ID and character count tools, you have even more control over how your messages look and how much they cost to send — making this one of the easiest, most effective ways to improve guest communication without adding to your workload.

If you haven’t tried SMS notifications yet, now’s the perfect time to start. Your guests (and your no-show rate) will thank you.