BEST PRACTICE
Feasts of the
FUTURE
Catering for meetings and events is not an aspect that organisers and planners can overlook. Meetings discovers what trends we can expect from the future of event catering.
A
s event organisers and planners, we are expected to be perfect hosts to our attendees and make them feel comfortable and welcome. Delegates require sustenance throughout the time they are attending your event and leaving them to go hangry is far from ideal – so the food that has been arranged for them is key. Mealtimes and tea breaks also present prospective networking opportunities. “While most meetings have dedicated times for attendees to network, one of the most commonly used times to network is over the catered lunches and dinners at events. This is the time when attendees can take a break, relax and form relationships,” says the recently
amalgamated MeetingPlay and Aventri in its Food & Beverage Guide. And while food may be an item within our budgets that forms among the highest costs, it can also endear our audiences to us the most and is a highlight for them, provided it’s done right.
HEALTH, HYGIENE AND WELL-BEING A major focus has been placed on the serving and handling of food during the Covid-19 pandemic. This has seen measures such as Perspex screens being installed between food and patrons, as well as chefs and servers assisting guests with dishing food on to their plates. It has also seen cutlery being
RESOURCES According to Cvent, 80% of consumers think food waste is a major problem. Learn how to efficiently use (and even profit from) leftovers in The 8 Biggest Food Trends Driving Serious F&B Revenue, which you can download from www.socialtables. com/guide/catering-food-trendsdriving-revenue. And, if you need inspiration, here are five cool foodie ideas from Hoppier that you may want to consider: 1. DIY dessert bar 2. Personalised menus from favourite local eateries 3. Create your own pizzas and burgers 4. Bite-/sample-sized versions of classic dishes 5. Indoor picnic kit
24 • MEETINGS l MAY/JUNE 2022 www.theplanner.guru
