Keep diners returning to your establishment by avoiding the common issues that keep Americans from returning to restaurants.

In order t build repeat restaurant business, it is crucial that restaurant owners avoid the common issues that keep Americans from returning to foodservice establishments. While loyalty programs can be effective tools to build customer loyalty, even the best loyalty program cannot make-up for some of the issues that Americans identified as reasons not to return to restaurants.

A new survey commissioned by Cintas Corporation and conducted by Harris Poll has revealed the common issues that keep Americans from returning to restaurants. Conducted online among 2,034 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, the study found that 97% of U.S. adults would be influenced to not return to a restaurant if they experienced some type of issue related to the facility.

“Even with a master chef in the kitchen, a dirty restroom or unattractive entryway can leave a bad taste in a diner’s mouth,” said John Engel, senior marketing manager, Cintas. “Repeat business is vital to the success of any restaurant. Restaurant managers must ensure that their employees are READY to address facility flaws to keep diners returning.”

The top five factors that would turn diners away from a restaurant include:

• Dirty surfaces (e.g., tables, chairs, booths, dust on decor, dust bunnies on floors) – 86%
• General bad odor – 85%
• Dirty restrooms (e.g., floors, stalls, mirrors, odor) – 80%
• Dirty/slippery floors (e.g., wetness, dirt/dust) – 72%
• Entryway cleanliness (e.g., cigarette butts, overflowing trash cans, unkempt appearance) – 70%

Consumers also cited plumbing issues (e.g., toilets and/or sinks not working) (68%), broken or cracked glass (e.g., counters, windows) (53%), noise (e.g., loud music, loud employees, phones ringing) (47%), dirty/discolored ceiling tiles (47%), poor outdoor patio conditions (37%), lighting issues (e.g., light fixtures out, not working properly, poor lighting) (36%) and other issues (21%) as factors that would influence them in choosing to not return to a restaurant.

The study also found that gender plays a role in which factors influence a customer to avoid a restaurant. Women are less likely to return to a facility with a dirty entryway (75%) than males (64%). More women (72%) also said a plumbing issue would prevent them from returning to a restaurant, compared to 63% of men.

More older Americans, ages 65 and older, said that dirty/slippery floors would influence their decision to return to a restaurant (88% versus 61% ages, 18-34).