We have all attended a congress in our industry or a convention of our company during our working life. These are marathon days in which we receive a lot of interesting information and which usually demand a lot of attention from us.
It has been proven that it is very difficult to maintain attention for more than two hours at a time, so those who prepare the event know how important it is to make breaks.
On many occasions, a presenter of the event relaxes the tension, or a humorous lecture is included, or a renowned speaker for motivational talks or similar.
Another way to lighten the workday is to include group tasks or activities that favor integration in the company and help foster teamwork.
And just as the event organizers are aware of this need, the catering company has to make the moments of relaxation as pleasant and interesting as possible.
Catering services could be summarized as follows:
- Welcome coffee, light because you arrive "breakfasted" from home and 30 to 60 minutes long because the attendees do not all arrive at the same time. It is important to know if many people come from other cities, because then this coffee has to be something stronger, including pastries and juices.
- Mid-morning coffee break of about 30 minutes, including sweet pastries and often salty snacks. If there are exhibitor stands, this break may be extended so that attendees can walk among them.
- Lunch, usually no longer than 60 - 90 minutes, you have to make the most of the time! The catering format is usually a cocktail to encourage interaction among attendees, to stretch their legs and not to be heavy because you have to continue working afterwards. It is customary to offer coffee at the end of the cocktail, often in disposable cups so that they can leave the venue to get some fresh air and smoke, if necessary.
- Mid-afternoon coffee, a catering of another 30 minutes that can include soft drinks and savory items because in the afternoon many people no longer want to drink coffee.
To finalize the event we distinguish two formats with different catering services:
- Closing with a Spanish wine around 6 pm: drinks and 6-8 appetizer passes at the most because people have to catch flights or leave for their home city.
- Gala dinner seated at the table. On this occasion, the event can be extended for a day or half a day the following day, and once everyone is gathered, they are entertained with a night out.
The most usual thing is that they go to their homes or hotels to rest a little and change and that the dinner is offered in a different place, because variety is the spice...
People are received with a short welcome cocktail as everyone arrives and during the dinner (or at the end) it is a good moment for the presentation of awards or outstanding mentions, speeches by the CEO, etc...
- Open bar service: finally and as a finale, dancing and drinks, or just a drink, depending on time and budget, of course!
For catering companies these events are very attractive because in addition to many services to be billed, it is normal that they are quite numerous. As we have mentioned on other occasions, it is important to have a good relationship with the space where the event takes place so that everything goes smoothly and also to have a good relationship of trust with the client to be able to offer the closing dinner, even if it is in another place.
It will be understood then that the gastronomic offer cannot be repeated, it is necessary to try to vary the appetizers or to theme some catering service to give it differentiation and not to bore the diner with "more of the same".
Waiters' workdays have to be sensible as you have to keep smiling throughout the day, this means:
- Waiters serving morning breakfasts leave after lunch,
- those who come in for lunch, stay for the afternoon catering services and space pick-up.
- and to change the equipment for dinner service and/or open bar.
We have not talked about the decoration in catering services and it is something very important to give unity to the image of the event. Marketing works hard to convey to employees the purpose of the event itself. And the catering has to be in line with them.
There is no event of this type that does not display the company's colors, both in merchandising and in the posters, scarves and ties of the staff, etc. And in our tablecloths and centerpieces, of course.
At the end of these days, a survey is always passed to the participants to evaluate all the elements that indicate the success of the event in order to improve for the next occasion. Things such as the temperature and sound of the room, the cleanliness of the facilities, the quality of the presentations, the suppliers' stands, the entertainment and, of course, the catering services are evaluated.
At Artigot Catering we are very proud to repeat with some of our clients their conventions year after year, even when they change their venue.
This is Spain and here food is very important, how lucky we are!
