File photo. Photo: 123rf
Restaurant operators who responded to a recent survey have reported lower than usual pre-Christmas bookings.
The Restaurant Association was sent to 2500 members, and 194 businesses responded.
In the survey, 65 percent of respondents said bookings were faring worse compared to a typical year.
Auckland and Wellington businesses had the highest representation in the survey, at 28 percent and 21 percent respectively.
Businesses from other regions also participated, including Northland, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato, Canterbury and Otago.
One restaurant operator told the survey some businesses were opting for cheaper options for their work Christmas functions, such as home barbecues.
Another restaurant said bookings typically planned months in advance were now planned at shorter notice.
Other feedback included people spending less, sharing dishes, and skipping desserts.
About 40 percent of respondents said they were pessimistic about this summer season being a strong trading period, and 27 percent said they were somewhat optimistic, 10 percent were very optimistic, and 22 were felt neutral.