The Success Story of Zilte

Extraordinary products and eccentric creations combined with a personal, welcoming team make guests want to make reservations at the Zilte months in advance. This is why the partnership with Resengo as an online reservation system was born.

Every hospitality entrepreneur has their own story. The passion for entrepreneurship, hospitality and above all good food makes the business what it is. But how do entrepreneurs like Zilte in Antwerp make their own voice heard? How do they keep their success story alive? And what role does Resengo take on for them?

"A pure gastronomic experience at unprecedented height. The skyline of Antwerp as culinary decor." is how Zilte introduces itself. Until recently, we still knew the three-star restaurant on the top floor of the MAS under the name 't Zilte. But 't Zilte not only reinvented itself with a new name in early 2020, but also shifted the orientation of the business to the other side of the ninth floor and was immediately given a new look. The result? A particularly stylish, intimate and warm interior with cosmopolitan allure, combined with the best of chef Viki Geunes' generous, refined and very beautifully presented cuisine.

At the steering wheel are still familiar faces at Zilte in Antwerp - chef Viki Geunes and hostess Vivian Plaquet - who now also welcome daughter Gitte Geunes to the business. The latter will ambitiously take care of Zilte's event branch, which will host themed events such as brunches or Asian-inspired evenings - often in partnership with other well-known, local catering businesses - in their One Eighty room, in addition to private meetings. In this way, the business will grow into a true rooftop concept on an international level.

From the interior, to the service, to what goes on the plate: at Zilte, you already find it in the guest's experience when making their reservation; everything has to be right. That's why the Zilte team chose a reservation system that is completely in line with their own look and feel. "We seamlessly integrated the Resengo system into all our communications and fully adapted it to our style. This way, we offer a unique total experience that already starts when our guests book." Geunes enthuses. With Resengo's new reservation widget, customer reservations are intuitive, easy and completely in the style of Zilte. "As a three-star business, you want to set a certain standard and be able to carry this through in everything. So also in your communication and online presence."

We have seamlessly integrated the Resengo system into all our communications and fully adapted it to our look and feel. This way, we offer a unique total experience that already starts when our guests book.

– Viki Geunes – Zilte

Geunes: “It's great when you can express your creativity in your concept. When guests see what you go for and stand for, it is enormously satisfying. In our new concept, we want to serve top gastronomic dishes in a setting that evokes warmth and a feeling of cocooning. And if our guests appreciate that and spontaneously call it so, we have succeeded. After all the changes in the business, the picture is right, yet we want to continuously evolve at that highest level.”

“The appreciation I get from our guests is my source of energy. When you get applause - so to speak - from the customers, it is immensely satisfying. It also makes your work lighter," says Geunes. That way, this top chef can focus even more on his passion. Resengo also helps lighten certain tasks without the restaurant losing control. After all, they know their business and their customers best. "Resengo automates a lot of administrative tasks, while giving us the freedom to optimally manage our reservations and communication according to our own preferences," says Geunes.

Resengo automates a lot of administrative tasks, while giving us the freedom to optimally manage our reservations and communication according to our own preferences

– Viki Geunes – Zilte

By linking reservations through Resengo with a credit card guarantee, we don't have to worry about no-shows," Geunes explains. Research by Resengo found that 7 in 10 restaurants face no-shows several times a month. People who fail to show up without notice, can cost us a lot. Avoiding those no-shows starts with facilitating the correct entry of customer data and a smooth follow-up with the right communication. Resengo Analytics also allows Zilte to track their performance at all times. "We also found the cooperation between Resengo and Zilte's marketing and communications agency to be very smooth. As a reservation system that thinks along with us, Resengo really offers added value.