Perched above Wharf 10 in Pyrmont, LuMi Dining is known for its Italian soul meets Japanese precision, delivering a carefully choreographed dining experience. From the moment guests arrive to the final course, everything is designed to feel considered and deeply personal.
Led by an award-winning team and recognised for its innovative tasting menus and refined service, LuMi Dining has built a reputation for doing things exceptionally well. But behind every polished service is a complex operation that needs to run flawlessly.
We spoke with Venue Manager Hugo Scott about how the team uses Now Book It to support their service, their staff, and as an extension, their guests.
“Our aim is for guests to switch off the moment they walk in, they shouldn’t feel the logistics behind a fine dining venue, and Now Book It helps us keep it that way.”
The reality of running a premium dining room
While the guest experience at LuMi Dining feels effortless, the reality behind the scenes is anything but simple. Managing a high-end venue comes with its pressures: limited seating, multiple menu formats, long lead times for bookings, and guests with very high expectations.
LuMi operates across several tasting experiences, including curated tasting menus and omakase-style dining, alongside private bookings and special events.
“The biggest challenge for us is balancing complexity with consistency, every booking is slightly different, but the experience always needs to feel the same.”
Before using Now Book It, managing that complexity meant juggling systems, manually tracking guest notes, and spending too much time on admin tasks that pulled the team away from the floor.
“Tracking preferences, dietary requirements, special occasions, it all lived in different places, It made it harder to be proactive with guests and added unnecessary stress for the team.”
On top of that, handling deposits, pre-authorisations, and event payments required careful coordination. Without a single source of truth, there was always the risk of double-handling information or missing key details during busy services.
“We wanted our systems to support the way we work, not slow us down or create more work.”
Built for detail with Now Book It's support
For LuMi Dining, introducing Now Book meant simplifying everything that happens around the booking journey.
The platform’s detailed yet intuitive guest profiles quickly became an integral part of the business. From visit history to preferences and notes, the team now has a clearer picture of who’s walking through the door before they even arrive.
“It gives us context, you’re not starting from scratch every service, you already know your guests,” said Hugo.
This visibility allows the team to tailor service in subtle but meaningful ways. Whether it’s recognising a returning guest, accommodating dietary needs without having to ask twice, or understanding which experiences a guest has enjoyed in the past, the information is there when it matters most.
Integrated payments and pre-authorisations have also taken the pressure off managing premium bookings and events. Deposits, pre-paid menus, and function payments are all handled securely within the system, removing the need for manual follow-ups or separate payment processes.
“Now Book It just removes friction, you don’t have to think about whether something’s been paid or confirmed, it’s all there.”
Perhaps most importantly, the system runs quietly in the background. For the LuMi team, that reliability has translated into confidence, knowing the booking system won’t become a distraction during service.
“It’s allowed us to step back from managing systems and focus on managing the venue and that’s a big shift.”
Delivering better hospitality
One of the biggest changes LuMi has seen since implementing Now Book It is how the team spends their time. With fewer manual tasks and less double-handling, staff can focus on what they do best, delivering hospitality.
From managing last-minute changes to coordinating private events, everything is centralised and easy to access. This has reduced errors, improved communication between front-of-house and management, and made onboarding new team members simpler.
“When your systems are clear, the whole team feels more confident, that confidence translates directly to better service.”
The platform also supports smoother service planning. With clear visibility over bookings, seating, and guest details, the team can better pace the dining room and manage turnover times.
“For a fine dining venue, flow is everything and Now Book It helps us protect that.”
Unlocking value beyond the booking
LuMi Dining has also embraced Now Book It as a broader revenue and engagement tool, particularly through gift cards and curated experiences.
Gift cards have become a significant part of the business, especially during peak gifting periods. In December 2025 alone, LuMi sold over $20,000 in gift cards through the system. Gift card guests often make a night of it, spending around 30% more on average when they dine.
LuMi also makes full use of Now Book It’s Experience Gift Card feature, offering curated options such as their Tasting Menu, Omakase Menu, and Wine Pairings. These are delivered instantly via email, making them easy for guests to purchase and meaningful to receive.
“It’s not just a dollar value, it’s an experience, that aligns perfectly with what LuMi is about.”
Managing gift cards within the same platform as reservations keeps everything streamlined and easy to reconcile, without adding extra admin for the team.
A platform that grows with the venue
As LuMi Dining continues to evolve, having a system that can adapt with the business has been key. They have used the solution to introduce new experiences, host special events, and is constantly refining how bookings are managed. Now Book It provides the flexibility the venue needs without complicating operations.
“It doesn’t feel rigid, we can adjust things as the business changes.”
That level of control has helped LuMi maintain consistency while still experimenting creatively, something that’s essential in a venue known for innovation.
“Now Book It supports us without telling us how to run our venue, that’s crucial in this business.”
For LuMi Dining, the true value of Now Book It isn’t just in features or functionality, it’s in the peace of mind it gives the team.
When reservations, payments, and guest information are handled seamlessly, staff can focus fully on the dining room. Service feels natural, and the experience stays true to LuMi’s ethos.
Now Book It tip: Always order the tagliolini special. The unassuming and affordable pasta that sits below the supplement listing is easily to miss but worth noticing!
