{"id":5181,"date":"2020-03-27T23:43:43","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T23:43:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/messagemedia.com\/au\/?post_type=press&p=5181"},"modified":"2024-02-20T10:50:19","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T10:50:19","slug":"free-sms-package-for-hospitality-businesses","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/messagemedia.com\/au\/press\/free-sms-package-for-hospitality-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Free SMS package launched to help cafes and restaurants pivot to takeaway during COVID-19 shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"
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27 March 2020, Melbourne:<\/strong> Australia\u2019s largest specialist messaging provider MessageMedia<\/a> has today launched a free assistance package to support Australian cafes and restaurants switch to a takeaway and \u201ctext-in\u201d operating model during the government enforced COVID-19 shutdown.<\/p>\n

On the eve of #thegreataussietakeaway this Saturday March 28th, the package includes free messaging credits, a dedicated phone number to promote to customers and support from the MessageMedia team to redirect dine-in services to new takeaway and delivery options \u2013 all via SMS.<\/p>\n

CEO of MessageMedia, Paul Perrett, said the business has a long association with this sector and is helping a number of restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues transition to a text-in ordering model and wanted to offer their support in this time of need.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs this crisis worsens and businesses across the globe face temporary closure, we want to do our part to help our customers and others in the hospitality industry who are doing it so tough right now,\u201d Perrett said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo many restaurants and cafes are scrambling to shift from a dine-in to a take-away business model and we know that the quicker that happens the more people\u2019s jobs and livelihoods can be saved. That\u2019s why MessageMedia is offering this free package for those impacted, so they can quickly provide a convenient method for customers to order pick-up or delivery without having to pay a third party.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can be done without requiring someone to man a phone line, which we know is crucial at a time when many are so busy re-rostering staff, automating old processes and streamlining new sources of revenue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seeing tremendous resilience and ingenuity across many of the small businesses that have been hit so hard during this crisis, and it\u2019s never been more important for the business community to work collaboratively and support each other to get through this.\u201d<\/p>\n

With so many businesses relying on SMS as an essential service, MessageMedia has released a dedicated COVID-19 customer resources hub<\/a>, designed to help businesses adapt and ensure business continuity, whether it\u2019s for emergency alerts, appointment reminders or other essential services.<\/p>\n

Kara Bobbera, Assistant Manager at Albert Park Hotel who has worked in the hospitality industry for over a decade, said: \u201cIt has been a devastating couple of weeks for so many restaurateurs, cafe owners and workers across the whole hospitality sector. But for those that can, now is the time to band together and innovate, which is why it\u2019s so great to see MessageMedia and others throw their support and resources behind the industry in its time of need.\u201d<\/p>\n

What the SMS \u2018text-in\u2019 package includes<\/a> for your hospitality businesses<\/strong><\/p>\n