For many venues a gift card is a simple extra source of income, especially around the holidays. With HappyChef the guest buys the card online, on the restaurant's own gift card page, and the full amount is paid out within a few days. Of the transaction fee the buyer pays, €1 goes to Alzheimer research.
Who Pays What
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| The guest pays the card | €50 |
| The guest pays the transaction fee | €2 |
| Of which to Alzheimer research | €1 |
| The venue pays | €0 |
| The venue receives | €50 |
The fixed fee of €2 applies in Belgium (Bancontact) and the Netherlands (iDEAL). In other countries the guest pays by card: the contribution then covers the card payment costs plus the euro for Alzheimer research, rounded to 50 cents. On a €50 card that is €3. The venue always receives the full value.
In The Founder's Name, With Proof
The donations are made in the personal name of Thibault Van de Sompele, founder of HappyChef. Every transfer is listed with its date, amount and payment proof on the Our Donations page. The first one, of €770, dates from 31 October 2025. That way anyone can check that the euro per card really reaches the research.
- The guest buys a card. On the venue's gift card page they choose an amount and pay online straight away.
- The venue gets the money. The full amount reaches the account within a few days, without commission.
- The card is redeemed. At checkout the guest enters the code; the system keeps track of what is left on the card.
Venues that still work with a book and a phone can use the gift cards without paying: like unlimited reservations and the table plan, they are part of the free Start plan. How the cards work is explained on the Gift Vouchers page.
The biggest benefit for me was the time I got back — far fewer e-mails and phone calls to answer.
At Horeca Expo In Ghent
From 15 to 18 November 2026 HappyChef is at Horeca Expo in Flanders Expo, Ghent, on stand 4029. There the team shows how a venue puts its own gift card page online in two minutes.
