Every restaurant has them.
Guests who have already finished eating, haven’t asked for the bill yet, the waiter has walked past the table twice – and the table is still occupied.
Inside the industry, such guests are often called “campers”: they’ve “set up camp” at the table – scrolling Instagram, finishing the last sip of water, with no rush to leave.
This behavior has a professional name – guest lingering.
And while from the guest’s perspective it may seem harmless, for the restaurant lingering is a hidden but very expensive problem.
Why Lingering Is Not About “Rude Guests”, but About Economics
One of the key metrics of any restaurant is table turnover.
Simply put: how many times per evening the same table generates an order.
There’s an important thing to understand:
❗ A restaurant does not make money on tables.
It makes money on cycles: guest → order → table freed → next guest
What Even a Small Reduction in Visit Time Gives You
Let’s imagine:
- average visit time – 60 minutes
- the restaurant operates 4 peak hours
- one table serves 4 parties
If the average visit time is reduced by just 10 minutes:
- the average visit becomes ~50 minutes
- within the same time window, the table can serve one additional party
- that’s +1 extra order without expanding the dining room, kitchen, or staff
On a monthly scale, this turns into dozens of additional orders that previously simply didn’t fit into the available time.
Where Lingering Is Actually Created
In a classic service model, the guest journey looks like this:
The longest and least controllable part is the gap between “finished eating” and “paid”.
This is exactly where guests tend to linger.
The reasons are simple:
- psychologically, “we’re still customers, the bill isn’t closed yet”
- guests don’t want to (or feel awkward to) call the waiter
- it’s not obvious that they could leave faster
What Changes with GlobalTips Payments
1. Paying at the End – but Without Waiting for the Waiter
According to GlobalTips data, when guests pay the bill via QR code, the average time spent in the restaurant decreases by about 15%.
Why does this happen?
- no need to call the waiter
- no need to wait for the terminal
- the guest decides when to leave
As a result, the visit ends naturally and on time, and the table is freed faster.
2. What If the Guest Pays Right After Ordering?
Guest behavior research shows an even stronger effect when the order is paid immediately after it’s placed:
- the “psychological anchor” of waiting for the bill disappears
- the visit is perceived as a completed process
- after eating, guests leave noticeably faster if they don’t plan another order
Why?
- there is no feeling of “we’re not done yet”
- extending the visit requires a conscious action (another order + another payment)
- sitting “just because” becomes less comfortable
👉 Altogether, this creates an even shorter visit cycle than post-payment — and maximum table turnover.
Important: Guests Are Not Required to Guess
One of the most common mistakes restaurants make is assuming:
“Guests already know about QR payments – those who want it will use it.”
In reality:
- many guests learn about it too late
- often – only when asking for the bill
- and sometimes – they don’t learn about it at all
The main source of information is the waiter.
And the moment when this information is shared is crucial.
Why Timing Matters When Talking About Payment
It’s not only what you say to the guest – but when you say it.
The same phrase sounds very different at different stages of the visit:
- At the very beginning, when guests just sat down talking about payment feels premature – the order hasn’t been placed yet.
- When the food is served, mentioning payment may feel awkward, as if the guest is being rushed.
- At the very end, when the guest already asks for the bill, QR payment still saves time – but only affects the final minutes of the visit.
The Ideal Moment – Right After the Order Is Taken
There is one stage where information about payment feels completely natural — right after the order has been taken.
Why exactly then:
- the guest is already engaged and feels cared for
- they are not thinking about leaving yet
- the information sounds like a helpful tip, not pressure
- the guest remembers this option – and recalls it at the right moment
As a result, when the meal is finished, the guest chooses to pay via QR on their own, at a convenient time, without involving the waiter.
Example of a Proper Waiter Script
Seating the Guests
“Here is the menu.
We also have a QR menu – it includes dish photos and multiple languages.”
Taking the Order
(the waiter takes the paper menu)
“If you need the menu later, it’s available via QR.
You can also pay the bill via QR at any time, without waiting for a waiter.
Confirmation of payment will appear there in a few minutes.”
👉 At this moment, it sounds like care and convenience, not like rushing the guest.
When Guests Ask for the Bill
“Card or cash?
Would it be convenient to pay via QR?”
Key Takeaways
- lingering is not about “bad guests”, but about a poorly designed end of the visit
- even –10–15% from the average visit time creates a noticeable revenue increase
- QR payments with GlobalTips:
- reduce visit duration
- lower staff workload
- increase table turnover without pressuring guests
- reduce visit duration
- but it’s essential that guests actually know this option exists
- the key success factor is the waiter and the right moment of communication
If a guest knows they can leave easily – they usually do, and right on time.
