OpenTable Survey Finds Americans Think It Is OK to Cheat on Valentine's Day

Americans are more likely to bend the rules on dieting, spending and dating on the most romantic day of the year, but stand firm on romance deal breakers including mobile phone use, political talk and exes

News provided by

OpenTable, Inc.

Feb 08, 2017, 07:30 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenTable, the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations and part of The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN), today announced the findings of its Valentine's Day survey conducted online by Harris Poll in December 2016 among over 2,000 U.S. adults, which revealed Americans are likely to celebrate leniency as well as love on Valentine's Day.

According to the survey, 71% of Americans plan to dine out in celebration of the romantic holiday this year; and many indicated a desire to throw caution to the wind and break their diets, budgets, as well as the traditional rules of dating. Even with New Year's resolutions still fresh on everyone's mind, it appears they will not impede Americans from embracing Valentine's Day as a 24-hour hall pass. Despite a more carefree attitude, there are still some social graces that likely won't be met with a blind eye once at the table, including mobile phone use, political talk or mention of an ex.

"In spite of the rules and resolutions we often set for ourselves, especially at the start of a new year, we found that many Americans would be willing to give themselves license to let go and enjoy the holiday without restraint," said Caroline Potter, Chief Dining Officer at OpenTable. "More than a celebration of love, Valentine's Day will serve as a reprieve from the daily grind, a day to gather around the table and treat ourselves as well as loved ones."

New Year, New You...until Valentine's Day
Nearly nine out of 10 Americans (87%) say it is ok to cheat on their diet when dining out on Valentine's Day. Perhaps pointing to a certain comfort that comes with off-the-market status, those currently in a romantic relationship are more likely to find indulging and breaking their diet on Valentine's Day acceptable than those who are single (90% vs. 79%).

Money ain't a thing
More than just cheating on their diet, 44% of Americans would want to make it count by splurging and ordering pricier items off the menu than they usually would. Men are more likely than women to bypass modest dishes for more decadent ones (55% vs 34%). As for singles, who will likely be footing their own bill, it appears they will be watching their pocketbooks, with only 32% saying they would order a more expensive menu item than usual for Valentine's Day, compared to nearly half of their coupled counterparts (49%).

Hey, I just met you, but will you be my Valentine?
Half of Americans (50%) feel it is fine to dine out with a sweetheart on Valentine's Day after less than a month of dating, with a surprising 1 in 5 (20%) saying it is acceptable as a first date.

No phones allowed, unless for a selfie or squad pic
More than half of Americans (55%) believe it is never acceptable to use a mobile phone for any reason during a Valentine's Day meal. However, nearly one in three (32%) think it is permissible for selfies or group photos. Millennials (age 18-34), however, follow their own rules, with 71% saying it is ok to use a mobile phone for any reason during a Valentine's Day meal.

Bad romance
More than 9 in 10 Americans believe there are surefire ways to boost (93%) or bust (95%) the mood during a Valentine's Day meal. Among the mood enhancers, over three in five (62%) believe that arriving early with flowers or a gift is a definite win. Women are more likely than men to be particularly sweet on this romantic gesture to make a Valentine's Day dinner date more special (67% vs. 57%). When it comes to top mood killers, using a mobile phone too much (78%), being rude to restaurant staff (76%), mentioning an ex (68%), poor table manners (68%), and discussing politics (42%) take the proverbial cake.

Looking to bend the rules this Valentine's Day? Check out OpenTable's recently released list of the 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America for 2017, or the 25 Most Romantic Cities in America for 2017. For more tips and trends, visit the OpenTable Blog, where you can also read up on this year's #ValentinesDishPics giveaway.

About the Survey:
The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of OpenTable from December 13, 2016 to December 15, 2016 among 2,058 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling errors can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact [email protected].

About OpenTable:
OpenTable, part of The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN), is the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations, seating more than 21 million diners per month via online bookings across more than 40,000 restaurants. The OpenTable network connects restaurants and diners, helping diners discover and book the perfect table and helping restaurants deliver personalized hospitality to keep guests coming back. The OpenTable service enables diners to see which restaurants have available tables, select a restaurant based on verified diner reviews, menus, and other helpful information, and easily book a reservation. In addition to the company's website and mobile apps, OpenTable powers online reservations for nearly 600 partners, including many of the Internet's most popular global and local brands. For restaurants, the OpenTable hospitality solutions enable them to manage their reservation book, streamline their operations, and enhance their service levels. Since its inception in 1998, OpenTable has seated over 1 billion diners around the world. OpenTable is headquartered in San Francisco and has bookable restaurants in more than 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States.