Planning a huge party can be stressful enough, but planning corporate events can be off the charts. Impressing your close friends and family is an entirely different story than impressing your boss, his friends and his family. A few mistakes won't cost you anything at a family gathering but even just one mistake at a corporate gathering can cost you your job, which is why corporate event planning can be so stressful - everything has to be absolutely perfect.
When planning corporate events, you first of all need to take a deep breath and be able to take things in perspective. Make sure you give your guests enough time to reserve your event date on their calendars and to RSVP their attendance and more importantly, make sure you have your theme, venue and menu ready for the big day. While the guest list can be easier to handle, selecting the best venue and the food to be served at the event are not. This is when hiring the best catering services for your event can be a god-send... and can also help you create a great impression on the boss.
To start, you need to ask yourself important questions like how formal the event is going to be, what menu should ideally be served and what location can possibly accommodate your guests. Remember that your menu should include items that cater to varying tastes and preferences as some, if not most of your guests may be on some kind of diet regimen they would like to stick to. Your potential venue on the other hand, should accommodate the maximum number of people possible as you don't want your guests to literally rub elbows with each other.
The best thing about catering companies these days is that they also do complete event management. They take of everything from the venue, to the d矇cor, to the food to be served and even the host and sound system if you please. They will also post suggested menus for your corporate events, from gourmet sandwiches to menus fit for morning or afternoon tea like mezze platters or a selection of Greek and Middle-Eastern dishes served in "mezze" portions. If you are holding an informal corporate event outdoors, the best catering companies will also offer boxed lunches delivered straight to your designated venue complete with napkins and cutlery, available in vegan and non-vegan varieties.
To start your search for the best catering companies, you can ask for personal referrals or references from close friends and colleagues. Reputable catering companies will be willing to take you a personal tour of their kitchens, as well as set up tasting sessions to give you a sample of the kind of high quality food they serve. They may also invite you to an event that they will be catering so you can get an idea of how they work a particular event.
Once you've narrowed down your potential list of candidates, you can call each one and discuss preliminary budget and to confirm availability for your event date. You can ask each one to provide a sample menu for your budget and projected number of guests. You must also make sure to ask each one about their policies regarding minimums, specific hours during the event and extra costs besides food and drinks.
Lastly, it is also important to find out whether your chosen caterer carries any kind of food manager's certificate for sanitation purposes or is insured - you can ask to see any occupational licenses, certification and insurance documents. Also, don't forget to draw up contracts listing every aspect of your agreement down. Don't be afraid to ask questions and more importantly trust your instincts. The best catering companies after all, will always want to make you feel special.
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