{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"22377","rtpr_id":"nPNA62CPta","ticker":"BKNG","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["BKNG"],"title":"OpenTable's inaugural Restaurant Awards shine a spotlight on Melbourne's Hospitality Landscape","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-05-06T02:00:01.398Z","article_body":"OpenTable's inaugural Restaurant Awards shine a spotlight on Melbourne's\nHospitality Landscape\nPR Newswire\n\nSYDNEY, May 6, 2026\n* OpenTable's Restaurant Awards in Melbourne celebrate the passion, craft and\nresilience of the restaurant industry across Icons, Industry Choice and\nPeople's Choice categories\nSYDNEY, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenTable\n(https://www.opentable.com.au/awards-melbourne/), a global leader in\nrestaurant technology, today announces its inaugural Restaurant Awards -\ncelebrating the restaurants and operators that define Melbourne's vibrant\ndining scene.\n\nNew research reveals that 63% of Australian diners are more likely to try a\nrestaurant they haven't visited yet if it has an award, or is named on a 'best\nrestaurants' list*. Now, through its new awards and Icons launch OpenTable\n(https://www.opentable.com.au/awards-melbourne/) is putting even more\nrestaurants in this mix for diners through three categories:\n* OpenTable Icons***: celebrating the culinary landmarks shaping Melbourne's\ndining culture, hand-selected by critics and industry experts appointed by\nOpenTable who live and breathe the city's food scene.\n* Industry Choice**: an insider's accolade, voted for by the people who truly\nunderstand what it takes to work the pass. This is peer-to-peer recognition\nfor the restaurants that industry insiders respect most.\n* People's Choice**: the voice of the diner. Celebrating the restaurants that\nhelp define Melbourne's dining culture, from beloved neighbourhood gems to the\nhottest new openings. These are the winners chosen by the people who keep the\ncity's dining rooms humming.\n\"OpenTable's inaugural Restaurant Awards will shine a light on Melbourne's\nincomparable hospitality scene, the venues that help make the city a world\nclass dining destination and set the global standard time and time again,\"\nsaid Drew Bowering, General Manager Australia at OpenTable. \"We're proud to\ncelebrate our partner restaurants and reward the exceptional experiences and\nservice that they're delivering.\"\n\nIconic Venues Named by Icons of the Australian Hospitality Industry\nOpenTable's latest consumer research showed that food quality and consistency\nis the dominant factor when most (87%) Australians consider what makes a\nrestaurant iconic, with almost half (46%) saying that price point doesn't\nimpact their perceptions of a venue's iconic status.*\n\nTo help more Australians uncover these iconic destinations, a panel of\nindustry experts will hand select their 'OpenTable Icons'***  - the culinary\nlandmarks they believe are truly shaping Melbourne dining culture.***\nOpenTable Icons will have a designation within the platform for diners to\ndiscover the of-the‑moment restaurants from both capital cities and to book\ntheir table.\n\nThe Melbourne Icons judging cohort includes CEO of Food and Drink Victoria\nAnthea Loucas Bosha (https://www.instagram.com/anthealoucasbosha/), food\njournalist Dani Valent (https://www.instagram.com/danivalent/), photographer\nKristoffer Paulsen (https://www.instagram.com/kristofferpaulsen/), CEO and\nFounder of PAX Hospitality Leon Kennedy (https://www.instagram.com/lkennez/),\nbeloved chef Rosheen Kaul (https://www.instagram.com/rosheen_/), television\nhost and food writer Sofia Levin (https://www.instagram.com/sofiaklevin/),\nFounder of Club Sup Sophie McIntyre\n(https://www.instagram.com/sophiemcintyre___/) and Co-Founder of MEASURED\nStudio Thurman Wise (https://www.thurmanwise.com/).\n\nAwarding the Most Loved of Melbourne's Food Scene \n65% of Australian diners surveyed believe that Melbourne is Australia's top\n'foodie city' and OpenTable's inaugural awards will spotlight the restaurants\nthat have helped the city earn this top spot.*\n\nVisit here (https://www.opentable.com.au/awards-melbourne/)to vote now before\nvoting closes on 18 May 2026, and for your chance to win one of several $250\ngift cards.**** All winners, including OpenTable Icons, will be announced at\nthe inaugural awards ceremony at Melbourne's Luci restaurant on Monday, 15\nJune 2026. Sydney venues will also be recognised with their own list of Icons,\nto be announced on Tuesday, 16 June 2026.\n\nThe shortlists for the Restaurateurs' and Industry Choice Awards** are as\nfollows.\n\nIndustry Choice Shortlist\n\nRestaurant Design Award\n* Circl\n* Coupette\n* Disuko\n* Yiaga\n* Yugen Dining\nInnovation Award\n* Amaru\n* Babines\n* Serai\n* Shelaneous\n* Vue de monde\nImpact Award\n* All Things Equal\n* Farmer's Daughter\n* RESIDENCE at The Potter\n* Scarf\n* The Mulberry Group\nStandout Service Award\n* Bistra\n* Il Solito Posto\n* Malin\n* Reed House\n* Ripponlea Food and Wine\nPeople's Choice Shortlist\n\nNeighbourhood Gem\n* Lagoon Dining\n* Neighbourhood Pizza\n* Punch Lane Wine Bar\n* Salona\n* The Carlton Wine Room\nBar & Pub Of The Year\n* Babines\n* Lamaro's Hotel\n* Lui Bar\n* Marquis of Lorne\n* Toorak Cellars\nBucket List\n* Amaru\n* Attica\n* Lee Ho Fook\n* Shelanous\n* Vue de monde\nOpening of The Year\n* Daphne\n* Disuko\n* Muses\n* Suze\n* Yiaga\nNOTES TO EDITORS\n\n*Consumer Research Methodology: An online survey was conducted by Ripple\nResearch among 1000 Australian diners, with a geographical focus of 500 Sydney\nand 500 Melbourne diners. Fieldwork was carried out between March 13th, 2026,\nand March 17th, 2026. All data was collected in accordance with MRS (Market\nResearch Society) and ESOMAR guidelines, ensuring ethical standards and robust\ndata quality.\n\n**Restaurant Shortlist Methodologies: Full methodology can be found here\n(https://www.opentable.com.au/c/awards-melbourne/terms)\n\n***OpenTable Icon Methodology: The \"Icon\" designation and associated\nrestaurant nominations are determined by an OpenTable-appointed industry panel\nvia a qualitative assessment of a pre-determined shortlist. This shortlist is\ngenerated through a combination of data-informed insights (diner reviews,\nratings, and platform signals) and expert input from local specialists. This\nprocess represents a subjective assessment rather than an objective ranking or\nexhaustive list. Eligibility is merit-based and requires no purchase or\ncommercial participation, and payment to OpenTable does not influence the\nlikelihood of nomination or selection. All selections are discretionary,\nfinal, and binding.\n\n**** Restrictions apply. See terms and conditions\n(https://www.opentable.com.au/c/awards-melbourne/terms) \n(https://www.opentable.com.au/c/awards-melbourne/terms)for details.\n\nAbout OpenTable:\n\nOpenTable (http://www.opentable.com.au/), a global leader in restaurant tech\nand part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (https://www.bookingholdings.com/)\n(NASDAQ:BKNG), helps more than 65,000 restaurants worldwide fill 1.9 billion\nseats a year.  OpenTable's world-class technology empowers restaurants to\nfocus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line\n– while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for\nevery occasion.\n\nView original\ncontent:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/opentables-inaugural-restaurant-awards-shine-a-spotlight-on-melbournes-hospitality-landscape-302762359.html\n\nSOURCE OpenTable\n\n\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPNA62CPta","title":"OpenTable's inaugural Restaurant Awards shine a spotlight on Melbourne's Hospitality Landscape","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"BKNG","created":"2026-05-06T02:00:01.398Z","tickers":["BKNG"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"OpenTable's inaugural Restaurant Awards shine a spotlight on Melbourne's\nHospitality Landscape\nPR Newswire\n\nSYDNEY, May 6, 2026\n* OpenTable's Restaurant Awards in Melbourne celebrate the passion, craft and\nresilience of the restaurant industry across Icons, Industry Choice and\nPeople's Choice categories\nSYDNEY, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenTable\n(https://www.opentable.com.au/awards-melbourne/), a global leader in\nrestaurant technology, today announces its inaugural Restaurant Awards -\ncelebrating the restaurants and operators that define Melbourne's vibrant\ndining scene.\n\nNew research reveals that 63% of Australian diners are more likely to try a\nrestaurant they haven't visited yet if it has an award, or is named on a 'best\nrestaurants' list*. Now, through its new awards and Icons launch OpenTable\n(https://www.opentable.com.au/awards-melbourne/) is putting even more\nrestaurants in this mix for diners through three categories:\n* OpenTable Icons***: celebrating the culinary landmarks shaping Melbourne's\ndining culture, hand-selected by critics and industry experts appointed by\nOpenTable who live and breathe the city's food scene.\n* Industry Choice**: an insider's accolade, voted for by the people who truly\nunderstand what it takes to work the pass. This is peer-to-peer recognition\nfor the restaurants that industry insiders respect most.\n* People's Choice**: the voice of the diner. Celebrating the restaurants that\nhelp define Melbourne's dining culture, from beloved neighbourhood gems to the\nhottest new openings. These are the winners chosen by the people who keep the\ncity's dining rooms humming.\n\"OpenTable's inaugural Restaurant Awards will shine a light on Melbourne's\nincomparable hospitality scene, the venues that help make the city a world\nclass dining destination and set the global standard time and time again,\"\nsaid Drew Bowering, General Manager Australia at OpenTable. \"We're proud to\ncelebrate our partner restaurants and reward the exceptional experiences and\nservice that they're delivering.\"\n\nIconic Venues Named by Icons of the Australian Hospitality Industry\nOpenTable's latest consumer research showed that food quality and consistency\nis the dominant factor when most (87%) Australians consider what makes a\nrestaurant iconic, with almost half (46%) saying that price point doesn't\nimpact their perceptions of a venue's iconic status.*\n\nTo help more Australians uncover these iconic destinations, a panel of\nindustry experts will hand select their 'OpenTable Icons'***  - the culinary\nlandmarks they believe are truly shaping Melbourne dining culture.***\nOpenTable Icons will have a designation within the platform for diners to\ndiscover the of-the‑moment restaurants from both capital cities and to book\ntheir table.\n\nThe Melbourne Icons judging cohort includes CEO of Food and Drink Victoria\nAnthea Loucas Bosha (https://www.instagram.com/anthealoucasbosha/), food\njournalist Dani Valent (https://www.instagram.com/danivalent/), photographer\nKristoffer Paulsen (https://www.instagram.com/kristofferpaulsen/), CEO and\nFounder of PAX Hospitality Leon Kennedy (https://www.instagram.com/lkennez/),\nbeloved chef Rosheen Kaul (https://www.instagram.com/rosheen_/), television\nhost and food writer Sofia Levin (https://www.instagram.com/sofiaklevin/),\nFounder of Club Sup Sophie McIntyre\n(https://www.instagram.com/sophiemcintyre___/) and Co-Founder of MEASURED\nStudio Thurman Wise (https://www.thurmanwise.com/).\n\nAwarding the Most Loved of Melbourne's Food Scene \n65% of Australian diners surveyed believe that Melbourne is Australia's top\n'foodie city' and OpenTable's inaugural awards will spotlight the restaurants\nthat have helped the city earn this top spot.*\n\nVisit here (https://www.opentable.com.au/awards-melbourne/)to vote now before\nvoting closes on 18 May 2026, and for your chance to win one of several $250\ngift cards.**** All winners, including OpenTable Icons, will be announced at\nthe inaugural awards ceremony at Melbourne's Luci restaurant on Monday, 15\nJune 2026. Sydney venues will also be recognised with their own list of Icons,\nto be announced on Tuesday, 16 June 2026.\n\nThe shortlists for the Restaurateurs' and Industry Choice Awards** are as\nfollows.\n\nIndustry Choice Shortlist\n\nRestaurant Design Award\n* Circl\n* Coupette\n* Disuko\n* Yiaga\n* Yugen Dining\nInnovation Award\n* Amaru\n* Babines\n* Serai\n* Shelaneous\n* Vue de monde\nImpact Award\n* All Things Equal\n* Farmer's Daughter\n* RESIDENCE at The Potter\n* Scarf\n* The Mulberry Group\nStandout Service Award\n* Bistra\n* Il Solito Posto\n* Malin\n* Reed House\n* Ripponlea Food and Wine\nPeople's Choice Shortlist\n\nNeighbourhood Gem\n* Lagoon Dining\n* Neighbourhood Pizza\n* Punch Lane Wine Bar\n* Salona\n* The Carlton Wine Room\nBar & Pub Of The Year\n* Babines\n* Lamaro's Hotel\n* Lui Bar\n* Marquis of Lorne\n* Toorak Cellars\nBucket List\n* Amaru\n* Attica\n* Lee Ho Fook\n* Shelanous\n* Vue de monde\nOpening of The Year\n* Daphne\n* Disuko\n* Muses\n* Suze\n* Yiaga\nNOTES TO EDITORS\n\n*Consumer Research Methodology: An online survey was conducted by Ripple\nResearch among 1000 Australian diners, with a geographical focus of 500 Sydney\nand 500 Melbourne diners. Fieldwork was carried out between March 13th, 2026,\nand March 17th, 2026. All data was collected in accordance with MRS (Market\nResearch Society) and ESOMAR guidelines, ensuring ethical standards and robust\ndata quality.\n\n**Restaurant Shortlist Methodologies: Full methodology can be found here\n(https://www.opentable.com.au/c/awards-melbourne/terms)\n\n***OpenTable Icon Methodology: The \"Icon\" designation and associated\nrestaurant nominations are determined by an OpenTable-appointed industry panel\nvia a qualitative assessment of a pre-determined shortlist. This shortlist is\ngenerated through a combination of data-informed insights (diner reviews,\nratings, and platform signals) and expert input from local specialists. This\nprocess represents a subjective assessment rather than an objective ranking or\nexhaustive list. Eligibility is merit-based and requires no purchase or\ncommercial participation, and payment to OpenTable does not influence the\nlikelihood of nomination or selection. All selections are discretionary,\nfinal, and binding.\n\n**** Restrictions apply. See terms and conditions\n(https://www.opentable.com.au/c/awards-melbourne/terms) \n(https://www.opentable.com.au/c/awards-melbourne/terms)for details.\n\nAbout OpenTable:\n\nOpenTable (http://www.opentable.com.au/), a global leader in restaurant tech\nand part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (https://www.bookingholdings.com/)\n(NASDAQ:BKNG), helps more than 65,000 restaurants worldwide fill 1.9 billion\nseats a year.  OpenTable's world-class technology empowers restaurants to\nfocus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line\n– while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for\nevery occasion.\n\nView original\ncontent:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/opentables-inaugural-restaurant-awards-shine-a-spotlight-on-melbournes-hospitality-landscape-302762359.html\n\nSOURCE OpenTable\n\n\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-05-06T02:00:01.443465242Z","server_sent_at_ms":1778032801443},"received_at":"2026-05-06T02:00:01.496Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"16561","press_release_id":"22377","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Software & Services","sector":"Information Technology"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"other","narrative":"OpenTable, a subsidiary of Booking Holdings (BKNG), launched its inaugural Restaurant Awards in Melbourne to recognize local culinary landmarks and industry operators.\n\nThe announcement cites research indicating 63% of Australian diners are more likely to try a restaurant if it has won an award.\n\nWinners will be announced at a ceremony on June 15, 2026, at Melbourne's Luci restaurant.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Subsidiary marketing announcement with no financial impact."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"survey_dates":"March 13th, 2026 to March 17th, 2026","survey_diner_sample":1000,"seats_filled_per_year":1900000000,"restaurants_on_platform":65000}},"quotedText":"OpenTable's inaugural Restaurant Awards will shine a light on Melbourne's incomparable hospitality scene, the venues that help make the city a world class dining destination and set the global standard time and time again","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Drew Bowering","role":"General Manager Australia at OpenTable"},{"name":"Anthea Loucas Bosha","role":"CEO of Food and Drink Victoria"},{"name":"Dani Valent","role":"food journalist"},{"name":"Kristoffer Paulsen","role":"photographer"},{"name":"Leon Kennedy","role":"CEO and Founder of PAX Hospitality"},{"name":"Rosheen Kaul","role":"chef"},{"name":"Sofia Levin","role":"television host and food writer"},{"name":"Sophie McIntyre","role":"Founder of Club Sup"},{"name":"Thurman Wise","role":"Co-Founder of MEASURED Studio"}],"products":[],"companies":[{"name":"OpenTable","ticker":"","relationship":"subsidiary"},{"name":"Booking Holdings, Inc.","ticker":"BKNG","relationship":"parent company"},{"name":"Food and Drink Victoria","ticker":"","relationship":"industry body"},{"name":"Ripple Research","ticker":"","relationship":"research firm"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$250","context":"gift card incentive for voting"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"Marketing announcement for a subsidiary's local awards program. 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