It seems that while many of us love the idea of heading out for a romantic meal on Valentine's Day, we're very happy to do so in the company of friends!
New research from MenuPages.ie indicates that people are throwing tradition out the window on the most romantic day of year, with a surge in group bookings for dinner on Valentine’s Day, Friday 14th February.
Group bookings using the MenuPages online booking system have increased by 25% compared to last year, leaving the folks at MenuPages wondering if there are more lonely hearts around this year, or perhaps more young people are choosing to embrace the day and have fun, with or without the Valentine’s day cards!
Not surprisingly, the statistics show that more men than women are responsible for booking a romantic meal for two. Usually, throughout the year, women account for 75% of restaurant bookings on Ireland’s leading reservations site. However, in the past week, 80% of Valentine’s Day bookings have come from men. The research also shows that a large portion of men leave the dinner plans to the last minute, with the majority of bookings made only in the last two days.
Booking a restaurant is the least of some men’s worries, with Valentine’s Day being one of the most likely times of the year for people to get engaged. There has been a number of requests to restaurants for bottles of champagne, flowers and music for the big moment of surprise, from nervous boyfriends preparing to pop the big question tomorrow!
“It’s a very exciting time at MenuPages to know that we are part of such special occasions,” Orla McDonagh of MenuPages said.
“Valentine’s Day is up there with Christmas as a key time for men to pop the question. We know it can be nerve-racking for the guys, so we try to make it as easy as we can and accommodate their requests.”
