Corporate catering can be a big influence in the success of your company's regular meeting or lavish annual event. To make it a sure success is no easy feat. If you keep in mind, though, certain elements of the event before deciding on the menu and the overall setting, it will make your planning a lot easier. You can simply remind yourself about the what, who, when, where, how and why of the event.
What the gathering is all about - Of course, you need to know the occasion for the meeting or the event. You need to know what will happen in the event. For a conference or a sit-down meeting that entails a lot of presentation and discussion, you might want to serve sandwiches and other finger foods that are definitely not messy, so there will be no danger of having sauces on the spreadsheets or notebooks.
Who will attend the meeting or event - Let us face it. All meetings and events in a company have something to do with ranks and responsibilities. Your corporate catering should address this, too. Pizzas and burgers can perk up regular team meetings, but a directors' conference would usually call for gourmet sandwiches or a whole lineup of lunch courses from appetizer to dessert. You might also have to consider the nationalities or cultures of the attendees for their diet limitations and preferences. Some guests might require vegetarian dishes.
When will the gathering take place - The season, the day, the time and the length of meeting should all be considered in the planning. Summer company get-togethers can be a barbecue on the rooftop of your building or a nearby marina. If it is a monthly wrap-up on a Friday, you can plan a short and smart cocktail. Breakfast meetings would have coffee and breads, most probably. A one-hour marketing update would be okay with biscuits and a refreshing drink.
Where the event will be held - A small board room meeting will be fine with a couple of drink choices and platters of sandwiches or crackers, depending on the length and time of meeting. Of course, banquet halls and other such huge venues can have the options of buffet, sit-down or cocktails.
Why will you hold the event - The reason for holding the event can give you an idea where you could anchor your theme or menu. If it is an awarding ceremony or a fete for someone special to the company, maybe you can have a cake that honors the awardee or the guest. Mini celebrations for closing monthly sales and hitting customer service targets are good reasons for you to have some sparkling drinks, not necessarily champagnes, and fun food like mini tacos, chicken fingers and/or cheese puffs.
How will the event be organized - This involves the budget and logistics of the event. Will you be hiring a full-service caterer or will you just be ordering cater pans from restaurants? How much budget are you working on for food? How much is your company willing to spend on other services for the event? Many corporate catering companies these days, though, are more flexible with their packages.
These are just some of the basic tips that can come in handy when you plan your company's event. Keep them in mind and you will surely have an easier start to your event planning.
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