Merge Tags and If-Conditions

1 What are merge tags?

Merge tags can be used to collect and process data or information on an individual level. Merge tags are used in text templates for e.g. reservation confirmations as placeholders if the information varies individually, e.g. the reservation time or the name of the guest.

For example, in automated emails, the merge tag for the first name - in aleno {{CustomerFirstName}} - each guest can be personally addressed by their first name. In the e-mail, the first name of the recipient of the mail is inserted in the place of the merge tag.

Example: If you want to address the guest by first name in the confirmation email, you set the merge tag with the value FirstName instead of the first name in the email template for the reservation confirmation. In the aleno system this merge tag is called {{CustomerFirstName}} . After each reservation the guest will be addressed with the first name in the automatic confirmation mail, e.g. Hello Frank. There are many different merge tags available for personalizing automatic mails.

You can find the merge tags in the email template settings by the swung brackets.

1. 2 How do you use Merge Tags?

Merge Tags can be used directly in your email templates to automatically add information related to the respective guest or reservation.

Go to Settings → Email → Templates and open the email template you would like to edit. Place the cursor where you want to insert the information and select the appropriate Merge Tag via the curly brackets icon.

For example, if you want to use the guest's first name, insert the following Merge Tag:

{{CustomerFirstName}}

This:

Hello {{CustomerFirstName}}

will automatically become, for example:

Hello Frank

You can also combine multiple Merge Tags, for example:

Hello {{CustomerFirstName}} {{CustomerLastName}}

When the email is sent, the Merge Tags are automatically replaced with the corresponding information from the reservation.

1.2 Form of address

With only two steps you can give your guest the option to choose the salutation:

1. Activate the salutation option in the settings under Widget -> Customizations:

2. Embedding the gender if-conditions in the settings under E-mail -> Templates:

2 If-conditions

The If statement is nothing more than a condition. Only if the condition is met, a command or an action is triggered. You can set up an if-statement in the email template or also in other text fields in aleno.

When are if-conditions useful? For example, if you want to send a different confirmation text for reservations for certain shifts, e.g. if the confirmation email for reservations for the terrace (=shift "Terrace") should be supplemented with a nice weather note.

2.1 How is the command structured?

The command starts with the keyword #if and is terminated with the keyword /if. These keywords are set automatically by aleno. So you don't have to enter them manually.

The basic command looks like this:

For var1 you have to insert a merge tag from the list, e.g. shift name. You can find the selection of if-stateconditions and merge tags in the email template settings at the swung brackets (see above).

For var2 you then put the specific value where the condition is met or the command should be executed. In this example it would be the name of the respective shift, e.g. 'Terrace'.

This is how it looks then (you may copy this if-rule a little further down):

What do you have to keep in mind:
1) Delete swung brackets of the merge tag (var1) in the if-statement, as in the above example for ShiftName.
2) The specific value (var2) must be enclosed in quotes, like 'Terrace' in the above example.

The text outside the if-condition is displayed for every reservation confirmation. The text inside the if-statements additionally for reservations that meet the conditions. In the example above for reservations for the terrace.

IMPORTANT: If, for example, a completely different text is to be sent depending on the shift, all text sections that refer to a specific shift must each be set within an if command. 

2.2 Combining if-conditions

If-conditions can be combined with each other. It is only important that the correct if-terminations (/if) are stored.

Here is an example (note the color-coded if-statements including their terminations):

Glossary Merge Tags

Here is a glossary of merge tags as well as if-statements which can be used in aleno:

Guest Information

Restaurant Information

Reservation Information

Summary of Multiple Reservations

Shift Information

Voucher Information

Additional / specific for guests informations via if conditions

{{#if ReservationPeopleCount greaterOrEqual '3'}} 
{{#if ShiftName equal 'Brunch'}} 
{{#if ReservationStartTime lessOrEqual '10:45'}}  
This text is only shown for reservations with at least 3 guests, in the Brunch shift, at or before 10:45.  
{{/if}} {{/if}} {{/if}}

ShiftId = A AND ShiftId = B AND ShiftId = C

16.10.2026

2026-10-16

{{#if ReservationComment notEqual ''}} You left us the following note: {{ReservationComment}} {{/if}}

{{#if ShiftCancelActive equal 'true'}} Cancel your reservation: {{ReservationCancelLink}} {{/if}}

{{#if ReservationSelfEditLink}} If you would like to make changes to your reservation, you can edit it here: {{ReservationSelfEditLink}} {{/if}}

{{#if ShiftName contains 'Brunch'}} We look forward to welcoming you for brunch. {{else}} We look forward to welcoming you. {{/if}}