Restaurants sending promotions, new menus or event invitations via WhatsApp must apply Türkiye's commercial messaging rules and İYS requirements under Law No. 6563. Rezervem Connect sends the campaign to eligible guests from its mobile app using an approved Meta template. WhatsApp is a messaging channel, not a legal exemption.
Who needs this checklist?
It is intended for restaurant operators, hospitality groups and managers planning promotions, menu announcements or event invitations. It is especially important where several brands or legal entities share a contact database: a consent record linked to one sender is not included to authorise campaigns on behalf of another.
1. Identify the legal sender and recipient category
Record which legal entity and brand will send the invitation. Examine whether the recipient is a consumer, merchant or tradesperson and whether the applicable Turkish rules treat the communication differently. Do not apply a recipient-specific exception to every guest as a blanket policy.
For a restaurant group, document how each outlet relates to the sending service provider. The fact that guest details are visible in one account does not establish unrestricted permission across all brands. Verify the responsible party before preparing a campaign.
2. Present KVKK privacy information separately
The data controller should provide appropriate information about the processing of personal data and establish a lawful processing condition. A KVKK privacy notice is an information obligation, not a marketing approval request. Explicit processing consent, where it is the relevant legal basis, is a separate matter.
The Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority's decision 2026/347 addresses the separation of privacy notices and explicit consent texts. Ask the venue's responsible team to ensure the published notices are relevant to its actual data uses.
3. Apply İYS approvals and refusals
Determine whether the applicable commercial electronic message approval exists for the sending entity, communication address and purpose. Inspect records of refusals and withdrawals instead of assuming a previously imported list is still valid.
Where an İYS integration is used, confirm that it operates for the correct business and brand. Audit the permission source and date where possible. The current refusal status is more relevant to a new campaign than an old positive flag saved in a spreadsheet.
Connect applies sending eligibility rules to recipients, including current refusal records. Keep the sender identity linked to the restaurant conducting the marketing campaign.
4. Select the approved WhatsApp template
Meta's WhatsApp Business messaging requirements apply in addition to Turkish legal obligations. The guest should have agreed to the relevant WhatsApp communication under the platform's rules. An İYS entry alone cannot prove that Meta's channel-specific opt-in conditions are met.
Confirm that the template category accurately reflects the content. A promotion should not be disguised as a reservation service notice. The approved text, relevant language and any preference or opt-out route must be reviewed before sending.
5. Test with an eligible audience
Compare the number of guests selected for a campaign with the number actually eligible to receive it. With authorised test contacts, confirm that opt-outs, missing consent and invalid message conditions prevent sending. Do not send a live promotion under the label of a test if permission is absent.
The restaurant should approve the sender, content, scheduled time and template before a larger campaign goes out. Record who can stop the campaign if eligibility checks reveal problems.
6. Retain campaign and permission records
After the campaign, retain its purpose, sender, template, eligible audience rules, delivery status and exceptions in an appropriate auditable form. Review refusals received after sending and ensure they are reflected before any later invitation.
Compare the business objective with actual outcomes, but do not count message reads as bookings. A verified attribution path is needed to report the campaign's effect on reservations.
Download campaign delivery totals from Connect and keep relevant marketing permission records under the business's data-handling process.
Where Rezervem fits
Rezervem Connect lets you choose guests who meet the permission rules, select the approved Meta template and send the campaign through the mobile app. Its sending engine removes ineligible and opted-out contacts. The restaurant retains responsibility for its legal notices and sender registration.
For practical details, use Ministry of Trade's İYS guidance and KVKK authority's statement.
Important limitations
- Recipient-specific statutory exceptions must be applied to the relevant sending business, not every guest.
- İYS approvals do not replace Meta WhatsApp opt-in and template rules.
Frequently asked questions
- Does WhatsApp marketing bypass İYS? — No blanket exception should be assumed. The venue's obligations require a recipient- and message-specific assessment.
- Does a previous reservation count as marketing permission? — No. The reservation purpose and a promotional invitation are distinct.
- Does Meta template approval replace İYS checks? — No. Template review is separate from legal approvals and opt-outs.
