The Credit Card War Behind Your Dinner Plans

2026-01-02

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Most people think restaurant reservations are about demand. They’re not. Today, Sammi breaks down the quiet power struggle happening behind your hardest-to-get dinner reservations — and why credit card companies, not restaurants, increasingly call the shots. From OpenTable’s early dominance to Resy’s cultural takeover and American Express acquisition, Sammi explains how reservations became a tool for loyalty, data, and consumer control. Once you see how the reservation system really works, you’ll never look at “fully booked” the...

Most people think restaurant reservations are about demand. They’re not.

Today, Sammi breaks down the quiet power struggle happening behind your hardest-to-get dinner reservations — and why credit card companies, not restaurants, increasingly call the shots. From OpenTable’s early dominance to Resy’s cultural takeover and American Express acquisition, Sammi explains how reservations became a tool for loyalty, data, and consumer control.

Once you see how the reservation system really works, you’ll never look at “fully booked” the same way again.

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Here’s what Sammi covers today:

00:00 The Hidden Controllers of Restaurant Reservations

01:33 The Rise of OpenTable

03:14 Resy's Disruption

05:14 The Credit Card Wars: Amex vs. Visa

06:55 DoorDash Enters the Arena

08:22 The Bigger Picture: Control and Influence

09:03 Next Episode Teaser

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