Study finds no-reservations policy can mean significant lost traffic

ITHACA N.Y. Nearly 60 percent of patrons dining out for business reasons will avoid an establishment with a no-reservations policy, a virtual convention among large casual-dining chains, according to new research from Cornell University.

The report from the school's Center for Hospitality Research prompted its authors to recommend that casual chains rethink their no-reservations stance to capture more of the lucrative expense-account market.

As part