Party Size and Zone Preferences on Call

When a caller asks to book a table, the AI can handle party size requests and zone preferences as part of the natural conversation. Here's what's supported and what to know.

Party size handling

The AI asks the caller how many guests they expect. Based on this:

  • The AI checks availability for tables that can accommodate that party size.
  • Tables too small for the party are excluded from offered options.
  • If the party size exceeds the maximum party size configured on your booking page, the AI will not be able to complete the booking through the standard flow.

Large parties: If you have a maximum party size configured, and the caller's request exceeds it, the AI may advise them to contact you directly. Configure your Large Party Notes in the booking page policies to give the AI useful wording for this situation.

Zone preferences on call

Customers sometimes request a specific section — "outside seating", "a booth", "near the window", or whatever zones you've configured in your Tables setup.

The AI handles zone requests naturally:

  • If the requested zone has availability, the AI books in that zone.
  • If the requested zone has no availability, the AI may offer alternatives in other zones.
  • If the customer is flexible, the AI will book whichever available table best fits.

Configuring zones for AI use

Zone preferences work best when your table configuration clearly defines zones. Each table should be assigned to a zone (e.g. "Indoor", "Outdoor", "Bar", "Private dining"). Descriptive zone names help the AI match what a caller says to the right zone.

If your zones have vague names (e.g. "Zone A", "Zone B"), the AI may not reliably match customer requests to the correct zone. Use real, descriptive names.

Special requests vs zone preferences

A zone preference (e.g. "outdoor table") is a placement request handled through the table configuration. Special requests (e.g. "birthday decoration", "high chair") are free-text notes collected at the end of the booking. These are different — make sure the appropriate fields are enabled in your booking settings.

💡 Tip: If outdoor seating is popular and limited, set up a separate outdoor zone so the AI can accurately track and report outdoor availability. This is much better than grouping all tables into one zone.

⚠️ Important: Party size limits apply across all booking channels (voice, online, manual). If you need to accommodate larger groups by phone, discuss with Speako support about how to adjust your configuration.