Unlike laidback personal gatherings, corporate events like business meetings, seminars, and conferences focus more on the exchange of ideas and messages than the food being served. Instead of getting quality caterers, planners would rather allocate most of their resources to renting great conference venues or meeting rooms and hiring the best speakers. Practical event planners assume that guests won’t always remember whether the meal was bland but they won’t forget a speaker who made them fall asleep during the presentation.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s okay for catering services to be an afterthought when planning a meeting or event.
Food is often the heart of every social gathering as the satisfaction of everyone sets the tone throughout the event. Hiring a good caterer is more than just a hospitality custom — it plays a couple of important roles in enhancing the event’s overall success and leaving a lasting impression on attendees.
In this article, we’ll share 4 ways hiring a good catering service benefits your event goals.
1. Catering helps energise attendees
Corporate events, like business meetings and seminars, can be long and exhausting. Even if you work with an energetic speaker with creative AVPs, your attendees won’t absorb and retain information or interact properly if they’re drained. Aside from incorporating breaks, think about providing attendees with nourishing food and drink to help them stay energised and get their creative juices flowing.
2. Sharing a meal fosters networking opportunities
Elegant lunch breaks and dinners provide the necessary pauses in events. During this time, you can create opportunities for attendees to network and socialize with one another, which can lead to valuable connections, shared ideas, and business opportunities.
Conversations over food also make meeting new people less awkward, breaking the monotony in the otherwise tedious business convention.
3. Catering boosts guest attendance
Everybody loves free food, right? Whether it’s buffet-style catering or an hors d’oeuvres party, attendees are more likely to show up when there’s food involved. Catering can also be designed to match the event’s theme, adding a creative element to the overall experience.
4. Leaves a good and lasting impression
Hiring a catering service might seem like an additional expense, and some event planners tend to scrimp on food to save some pennies. However, getting cheap on food rarely pays off. Aside from remembering good (and bad) food, most people are also great at remembering brands that gave them a memorable experience.
Let’s talk about branding! A catered event leaves your attendees with a great impression of your brand, allowing your event to stand out. You want your brand to be remembered as the one that cared for their attendees’ wellbeing, and not “the cheap company that served nothing but coffee.”
Catering Ideas for Corporate Events
Your catered event doesn’t need to be expensive or grand. However, it should suit your budget, cater to the needs and preferences of your attendees, and impact your event goals. Here are some catering ideas that can work well in corporate events:
- Buffet-style catering: Buffet-style catering is a great option for larger corporate events, as it allows attendees to choose from a variety of options and customize their meals to their liking. Buffet-style catering can also accommodate different dietary restrictions and preferences.
- Boxed lunches: Boxed lunches are a convenient option for corporate events that involve attendees being on the move or needing to take their meals with them. Boxed lunches can be customized to suit different dietary requirements and can also be a cost-effective option.
- Interactive food stations: Interactive food stations can be a fun and engaging option for corporate events. Examples of interactive food stations include make-your-own taco or burger stations, sushi rolling stations, or DIY dessert stations. Interactive food stations can also be tailored to fit the theme of the event.
- Coffee and tea stations: Coffee and tea stations are a must-have for most corporate events. Having a well-stocked coffee and tea station can help attendees stay energized throughout the event and provide an opportunity for networking and socializing.
- Health-conscious options: Many corporate events include attendees who are health-conscious or have dietary restrictions. Providing options such as fresh salads, smoothies, or vegetable and fruit platters can cater to these needs and preferences.
- Specialty snacks: Aside from caffeine-packed drinks, offering specialty snacks such as popcorn, trail mix, or energy bars can provide attendees with a quick and convenient pick-me-up throughout the event.
Overall, by offering a range of catering options that cater to different preferences and needs, corporate events can provide attendees with a satisfying and enjoyable experience.
Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a passionate writer for Meet in DCU, a unique conference venue in Dublin which is perfect for corporate meetings, conferences, seminars and events. Writing articles about travel and lifestyle is one thing she finds enjoyable, next to playing the piano.