NEW YORK, Sept. 4 -- In the United States, solo dining reservations have risen 29 percent over the last two years, according to the latest data released by OpenTable, the restaurant reservation site.

OpenTable CEO Debby Soo thought remote work is one reason for the increase, with diners seeking respites from their home offices, according to an Associated Press report about the change.

But Soo believed there are deeper reasons, too. "I think there's a broader movement of self-love and self-care and really ... enjoying your own company," Soo was quoted as saying.

The pandemic also made social interactions less feasible and therefore less important while eating out, said Anna Mattila, a professor of lodging management at Penn State University who has studied solo dining. And smartphones help some restaurant patrons feel connected to others even when they're by themselves, she said.

The growth comes as more people are living alone. In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that 38 percent of U.S. adults ages 25 to 54 were living without a partner, up from 29 percent in 1990.

"Increasing interest in solo travel -- particularly among travelers ages 55 and over -- is also leading to more meals alone," the Associated Press report noted.

  - Xinhua