In your company, are you responsible for booking venues, facilities, restaurants and organizing transportation for meetings and events?
| Planning a Moveable Feast |
It’s often tempting in Houston, a city with so many fabulous dining options, to consider booking a favorite restaurant to host an event. However, it may not always be cost-effective or time-efficient to break for lunch and transport guests to a dining establishment. At the same time, not every meeting facility has a kitchen and dining area. The perfect solution in this situation would be to enlist the help of one of Houston’s many top catering services that will not only bring great food to the location of your choice, but also assist you in the entire event planning process as well.
Bennie Ferrell Catering, one of Houston’s leading wedding caterers, is also known for its work on high-profile events. The company boasts a client list made up of such heavyweights as Hewlett Packard, Neiman-Marcus, Reliant Energy and, in recent years, has been the go-to caterer for the Bush family. In addition to an extensive gourmet menu, Bennie Ferrell Catering also provides non-culinary event services, including floral arrangements, ice sculptures, transportation services. While they are definitely accustomed to working with large companies that put on group functions with capacities of up to 10,000 guests, they are also able to cater for small, intimate affairs as well.
Bailey Connor Catering is also one of the city’s foremost catering companies. Meeting planners can choose any of their select corporate packages, each complete with a unique set of hors d’oeuvres and entrees.
Want Mexican food for lunch? Bailey Connor’s Southwest Sensation includes Mexican taquitos and tamales as hors d’oeuvres with serving stations offering chicken or beef quesadillas and roasted corn. Want to plan something a bit more tropical? The Lavish Hawaiian Luau offers black bean empanadas, Hawaiian meatballs and Kuana chicken tenders for starters while serving stations feature deluxe coconut shrimp, tropical passion rice, Asian lettuce wraps and carved spiral ham. No matter what the preference, Bailey Connor Catering works with meeting planners to make sure important production goals are met.
There are plenty of catering services in Houston with their own kitchen facilities that produce great original menus for corporate clientele. The presentation and staff service by these major corporate companies like the ones mentioned above are impeccable, not to mention the added bonus of assistance in other areas of the planning process.
However, sometimes guests like to put a name to the food they’re eating. Franchises come with their own history attached to their food, including an immediate personal connection with your guests. Happen to know some of your constituency’s favorite restaurants? Call and inquire if they offer catering services and, if so, take advantage of exciting your clients before the first dish is even served.
Pappas Catering is one of the most prominent restaurant caterers in Texas, with active facilities in Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Their diverse menu reflects the cuisine of their equally diverse line of restaurants: Pappasito’s Cantina, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Pappa Bros. Steakhouse and Pappas Bar-B-Q. In addition to the wide spectrum of food to choose from, Pappas Catering offers distinctive dessert and cocktail menus, as well as bar service that includes equipment and glassware.
There are many types of events that don’t require an elaborate meal or even snacks for that matter. Informal meet-and-greets and networking socials require little to no culinary preparation at all. For these events only a few platters of tasty hors d’oeuvres are necessary. The main focal point of these events is the alcohol selection. You’ll first need to see what your event facility has to offer in terms of bar services.
Many convention hotels and restaurants have bar space available. Bartending staffs at these facilities are provided and their services are usually included in the event package. If you are using a banquet hall or event center without a bar area, there is a possibility that there might be a portable bar set-up available for use. If not, find out if the facility works with any third party vendors that can assist you in acquiring the staff and equipment needed for your party.
Houston’s Mobile Bartenders is a bar catering company that not only provides professionally trained staff, but also offers complimentary event planning as well as liquor and wine consulting. Bartenders are well acquainted with the latest cocktail trends as well as being adept at mixing classic favorites. Support staff is also available for hire, including barbacks and mobile servers who can assist in table preparation and filling guests’ orders.
In case you find yourself having to organize a family event, Houston Mobile Bartenders offer fun children’s services, including non-alcoholic punch sodas, shakes and slushies, as well as banana splits and other ice cream treats.
How many bartenders should you anticipate on hiring for your cocktail party? According to 3 S Bartending, the rule of thumb ratio is one bartender for every 100 people. If your event is going to be less than that number, then you won’t need the services of a full staff. Instead, contact freelance bartending services like 3 S Bartending that can provide individual bartenders, waiters and bouncers on an hourly basis.
Alcohol always adds a significant amount of responsibility on meeting planners, so steps should be taken to ensure that the bar area is run smoothly. 3 S Bartending offers the services of workers that are all certified by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, ensuring that your event stays safe and professional.
Bennie Ferrell Catering, one of Houston’s leading wedding caterers, is also known for its work on high-profile events. The company boasts a client list made up of such heavyweights as Hewlett Packard, Neiman-Marcus, Reliant Energy and, in recent years, has been the go-to caterer for the Bush family. In addition to an extensive gourmet menu, Bennie Ferrell Catering also provides non-culinary event services, including floral arrangements, ice sculptures, transportation services. While they are definitely accustomed to working with large companies that put on group functions with capacities of up to 10,000 guests, they are also able to cater for small, intimate affairs as well.
Bailey Connor Catering is also one of the city’s foremost catering companies. Meeting planners can choose any of their select corporate packages, each complete with a unique set of hors d’oeuvres and entrees.
Want Mexican food for lunch? Bailey Connor’s Southwest Sensation includes Mexican taquitos and tamales as hors d’oeuvres with serving stations offering chicken or beef quesadillas and roasted corn. Want to plan something a bit more tropical? The Lavish Hawaiian Luau offers black bean empanadas, Hawaiian meatballs and Kuana chicken tenders for starters while serving stations feature deluxe coconut shrimp, tropical passion rice, Asian lettuce wraps and carved spiral ham. No matter what the preference, Bailey Connor Catering works with meeting planners to make sure important production goals are met.
There are plenty of catering services in Houston with their own kitchen facilities that produce great original menus for corporate clientele. The presentation and staff service by these major corporate companies like the ones mentioned above are impeccable, not to mention the added bonus of assistance in other areas of the planning process.
However, sometimes guests like to put a name to the food they’re eating. Franchises come with their own history attached to their food, including an immediate personal connection with your guests. Happen to know some of your constituency’s favorite restaurants? Call and inquire if they offer catering services and, if so, take advantage of exciting your clients before the first dish is even served.
Pappas Catering is one of the most prominent restaurant caterers in Texas, with active facilities in Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Their diverse menu reflects the cuisine of their equally diverse line of restaurants: Pappasito’s Cantina, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Pappa Bros. Steakhouse and Pappas Bar-B-Q. In addition to the wide spectrum of food to choose from, Pappas Catering offers distinctive dessert and cocktail menus, as well as bar service that includes equipment and glassware.
There are many types of events that don’t require an elaborate meal or even snacks for that matter. Informal meet-and-greets and networking socials require little to no culinary preparation at all. For these events only a few platters of tasty hors d’oeuvres are necessary. The main focal point of these events is the alcohol selection. You’ll first need to see what your event facility has to offer in terms of bar services.
Many convention hotels and restaurants have bar space available. Bartending staffs at these facilities are provided and their services are usually included in the event package. If you are using a banquet hall or event center without a bar area, there is a possibility that there might be a portable bar set-up available for use. If not, find out if the facility works with any third party vendors that can assist you in acquiring the staff and equipment needed for your party.
Houston’s Mobile Bartenders is a bar catering company that not only provides professionally trained staff, but also offers complimentary event planning as well as liquor and wine consulting. Bartenders are well acquainted with the latest cocktail trends as well as being adept at mixing classic favorites. Support staff is also available for hire, including barbacks and mobile servers who can assist in table preparation and filling guests’ orders.
In case you find yourself having to organize a family event, Houston Mobile Bartenders offer fun children’s services, including non-alcoholic punch sodas, shakes and slushies, as well as banana splits and other ice cream treats.
How many bartenders should you anticipate on hiring for your cocktail party? According to 3 S Bartending, the rule of thumb ratio is one bartender for every 100 people. If your event is going to be less than that number, then you won’t need the services of a full staff. Instead, contact freelance bartending services like 3 S Bartending that can provide individual bartenders, waiters and bouncers on an hourly basis.
Alcohol always adds a significant amount of responsibility on meeting planners, so steps should be taken to ensure that the bar area is run smoothly. 3 S Bartending offers the services of workers that are all certified by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, ensuring that your event stays safe and professional.
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If accepted, your submission will be edited for length and clarity. There is no monetary payment if your item is used; instead, you can publicize yourself through a five-line biography with your contact information that will appear at the end of the article.
Send submissions to
editorial@MeetingPlannerResources.org. We will contact you if your submission is chosen.