1. During your initial meeting with the catering company, book a taste testing session. If you don’t like the food, go elsewhere!
  2. Ensure that there are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meal choices and design your registration form to reflect those choices.
  3. Identify all costs in order to develop a realistic food and beverage budget. Keep in mind that usually the per-person cost does not include taxes, service or gratuities.
  4. Look over the catering contract very carefully. Some venues require a minimum order regardless of how many delegates register. If this seems risky, ask the catering manager to remove the clause. If they do not agree, go elsewhere.
  5. Most catering contracts require a 48 hour notice for final confirmation numbers. Subtract 10% from your final count, as generally there is a 10% no show rate. However this may vary by industry. If this is the first time you arrange an event of this type and you are unsure of the no-show rate, subtract 5%. On event day, if more people show up than you booked for, simply advise the catering manager; the kitchen can always prepare more meals. The advantage to this strategy is that it saves the client money and equally important, it contributes to less food waste.
  6. Most catering contracts require a 48 hour notice for final confirmation numbers. Subtract 10% from your final count, as generally there is a 10% no show rate. However this may vary by industry. If this is the first time you arrange an event of this type and you are unsure of the no-show rate, subtract 5%. On event day, if more people show up than you booked for, simply advise the catering manager; the kitchen can always prepare more meals. The advantage to this strategy is that it saves the client money and equally important, it contributes to less food waste.
  7. Obtain feedback from the delegates on the quality and quantity of the food offered; this will provide useful information to assess the caterering company which will affect your decision to use them again.
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