A Meeting Planner's Guide to Catered Events

Preface vii

Chapter 1 The World of Catering 1

TYPICAL CATERERS YOU WILL DEAL WITH 5

CATERING STAFF YOU WILL GET TO KNOW 6

HOW CATERERS PRICE FOOD AND BEVERAGE EVENTS 9

CATERERS’ OBJECTIVES 16

HOW CATERERS EVALUATE IF THEY ARE ACHIEVING THEIR OBJECTIVES 17

CREATIVITY 18

SCAMPER 20

WHICH CATERER IS RIGHT FOR YOU? 22

Chapter 2 Meal Functions 25

PURPOSE OF THE MEAL FUNCTION 26

MENU PLANNING 26

STYLE OF SERVICE 43

TYPES OF MEAL FUNCTIONS 49

Chapter 3 Beverage Functions 66

PURPOSE OF THE BEVERAGE FUNCTION 67

TYPES OF BEVERAGE FUNCTIONS 67

MENU PLANNING 70

ESTIMATING THE AMOUNT OF BEVERAGE ALCOHOL NEEDED 73

HOW MOST BEVERAGE FUNCTIONS ARE SOLD 75

BEVERAGE FUNCTION CHARGES 76

LABOR CHARGES 79

Chapter 4 On-Premise and Off-Premise Catering 83

ON-PREMISE CATERERS 84

OFF-PREMISE CATERERS 90

Chapter 5 Room Setups 103

APPEARANCE 104

LOCATION 106

UTILITIES 106

SPACE REQUIREMENTS 107

PLANNING THE FUNCTION ROOM SETUP 120

DINING ROOM LAYOUT 123

BAR LAYOUT 128

COFFEE STATION AND REFRESHMENT BREAK LAYOUT 130

BUFFET LAYOUT 131

TABLESCAPES: THE TABLETOP LAYOUT AND DECOR 139

WALL AND CEILING TREATMENTS 145

EMPLOYEE UNIFORMS 146

ROOM TEMPERATURE 146

ROOM SCENT 147

LECTERN OR PODIUM? 147

FLAG PLACEMENT 147

RESTROOM FACILITIES 148

PROPS AND OTHER DÉCOR 148

TENTS 149

Chapter 6 Staffing the Events 154

PAYROLL EXPENSE 156

FOOD PRODUCTION PLANNING 157

SERVICE PLANNING 160

DEPARTMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE CATERER 172

Chapter 7 Low-Cost Events 192

MARKET SEGMENTS 193

BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS 195

OTHER BUDGET OPTIONS 197

Chapter 8 Deep-Market Events 211

ELABORATE THEME PARTIES 212

ELABORATE THEMED REFRESHMENT BREAKS 222

ELABORATE OUTDOOR PARTIES 224

Chapter 9 Using Outside Suppliers 228

PROVIDING OTHER CLIENT SERVICES 229

AUDIOVISUAL 234

ENTERTAINMENT 239

LIGHTING 241

GROUND TRANSPORTATION 243

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 244

COOPERATING WITH OTHER CATERERS 245

RENTAL COMPANIES 245

Chapter 10 Contracts and Negotiations 248

BANQUET EVENT ORDER 250

RÉSUMÉ 254

CONTRACT 255

NEGOTIATIONS 279

Appendix 285

Glossary 291

Index 305