MEETING MUNCHIES

MEETING MUNCHIES»

ALFRESCO ANDIAMO

The pandemic has brought out a new sense of purpose for the popular Italian chain’s food truck.

Food trucks and meetings have gone hand in hand prior to March—but the pandemic and the resulting increase in outdoor events has launched the Andiamo Food Truck to new heights.

“With everyone redesigning the way in which they conduct business and celebrate social functions, this outdoor alternative has expanded our horizons and grown our sales to new levels as the outdoor events of up to 100 people are perfect for a food truck,” says Samantha Visconti, director of catering at Andiamo Catering & Event Management.

The food truck has been serving up homemade favorites from the Andiamo restaurants since 2015 to reach their fan base in more places outside of their brick and mortars. But this summer more than ever, people chose Andiamo to cater their graduations, weddings, birthdays, memorial services, bar and bat mitzvahs, and more.

The Andiamo Food Truck has taken many measures to ensure safety, such as contactless pay, single-use service items and electrostatic misters that disinfect the truck before and after events. Plus, guests can stand and sit in open air, socially distanced lines and tables.

The food truck’s menu provides some of the in-house favorites at the Andiamo restaurants, such as pasta and calamari. However, the Andiamo Food Truck allows clients to ask for custom menus, incorporating requests for anything from sushi to fish tacos, Mexican to Middle Eastern food.

Regardless of requests, the Andiamo Food Truck works tirelessly to accommodate no matter the menu, the time frame or the location.

“We are now very fluid with executing events with little to no notice, as people are desperately seeking alternative types of events for life’s milestones and important events,” says Visconti.

With all of the abnormalities that the pandemic has brought on, still having the option to enjoy the Michigan favorite at outdoor events during quarantine has made a strange time feel more normal—and delicious.

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Changed Industry, New Proficiencies

PCMA is raising money to help professionals build the new skills they need in an increasingly digitally focused environment.

Virtual events and digital skills have become vital to the meetings and events industry like never before. As it wasn’t absolutely necessary for planners to have these skills before the pandemic, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) stepped in to help professionals obtain the skills they need to help contribute to the future of meetings and events.

“We knew early on it was up to the foundation to step up to the plate to help industry professionals recover and thrive. We listened to our members and learned that finding and funding reskilling and upskilling opportunities was No. 1 on their wish list,” says Meredith Rollins, executive director of the PCMA Foundation.

In response, PCMA launched the Accelerating Reskilling Initiative. The initiative will fund 1,000 event professionals with scholarships for the Certified Meeting Professional online prep course, the Digital Event Strategist Certification, as well as access to PCMA’s event, Convening Leaders 2021.

To help reach its goal of raising $250,000 to fund the reskilling of 1,000 business event professionals, PCMA hosted a virtual fundraiser called Rethink, Reskill, Recover. The September event had 140 participants and raised $57,000 with the help of sponsors and individual donations. By the end of the month, the initiative had raised $100,000.

As in-person events resume, these skills will help prepare professionals for success in the meantime. foundation.pcma.org/accelerating-reskilling