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Immediate Success of Harlequin's Online Reservation System

Three weeks after its launch, Glasgow-based Harlequin Leisure Group's online reservation service, which enables customers to book their favourite table in their favourite restaurant through the internet, has received more than 400 online bookings. Sanjay Majhu, chief executive of Harlequin, Europe's largest chain of Indian restaurants, said, 'The volume of bookings we've been receiving already is far in excess of what we'd anticipated and we're delighted with the response we've had from diners. That response confirms my belief that the number of online reservations will rise significantly over the next few years to the point where online booking becomes an integral part of our business.' Harlequin's website www.harlequinrestaurants.com incorporates sophisticated technology to produce eye-catching 3D images of Harlequin restaurants - Ashoka, Spice of Life, Kama Sutra, Mister Singh's and Ashoka Shak - that enables diners to take a virtual tour of their restaurant of choice before deciding which table to reserve. Said Mr Majhu, 'We now want our customers to receive the full benefit of any special offers and promotions we run through the internet and, thanks to the website's 3D images, they can now wander through the restaurant, pick and choose their preferred table, scan the menu and decide what they'd like to eat in advance.' Harlequin comprises 16 restaurants employing 350 staff and generating an annual turnover of �12 million.