Corporate event planners are getting more creative with virtual options at hybrid events By Shannon Licygiewicz, CEM, General Manager, Albany Capital Center When the world realized the pandemic was not going away any time soon, the events industry, like most other fields, was forced to either adapt or shut its doors. For the Albany Capital Center in Albany, New York, to … [Read more...] about Going Hybrid
Business Tips
Paying It Forward
For women in male-dominated industries such as restaurants, it’s critical to have and to be a female mentor By Katerina Jones, Fleet Advantage According to a survey conducted in 2018, 56% of American workers have had a professional mentor, while 76% believe that mentorship is important. For professional women in a male-dominated industry such as restaurants, mentorship is … [Read more...] about Paying It Forward
How Women Can Pave a Path to Advancement
Five lessons for women on moving up the career ladder BY BRITTANY MAYER-SCHULER, GENERAL COUNSEL AT ELIOR NORTH AMERICA AND PRESIDENT OF SUMMIT FOOD SERVICE At the inception of my career, I job-hopped, thinking external mobility would more quickly advance my career opportunities. Today, I have steadily advanced within the same company for almost a decade. I could fall … [Read more...] about How Women Can Pave a Path to Advancement
A Taste of Tradition
How my family’s heritage influenced my love for Latin cuisine—and our menu By Robin Selden, managing partner and executive chef of Marcia Selden Catering Lucky for me, I grew up in a family where food was an expression of love. My Cuban grandmother affectionally referred to us as “Cubish” (Cuban and Jewish), which meant that we had some serious food coming across our … [Read more...] about A Taste of Tradition
Kitchen Talk: Chefs and caterers tell us what they love most about the room where it happens
By Sara Perez Webber No matter the size, the kitchen is the heart of every catering business and restaurant. Each has its own personality and flow. To get a sense of how various caterers make their spaces work, we asked a handful across the country: What do you love most about your kitchen? Hill’s Kitchen hills-kitchen.com The kitchenIn March, three years after … [Read more...] about Kitchen Talk: Chefs and caterers tell us what they love most about the room where it happens
Why Design Matters
It may seem secondary, but how you design your brand can significantly affect business By Megan Prevost When opening a new business, design often falls by the wayside. Distracted by seemingly more important things, owners may neglect to consider how their brand looks and the cohesion of their marketing materials. Without good design, however, you may be losing out to … [Read more...] about Why Design Matters
Smart Tech Tools
With labor hard to come by and costs rising, tech solutions that save you time and money become even more valuable By Sara Perez Webber What does your technology do for you? If the answer’s not “a lot,” it may be time to invest in new solutions. Employing smart tech products is more important than ever, as operators search for ways to stay profitable while battling rising … [Read more...] about Smart Tech Tools
A Greener Plate
Five ways to make your business operations more sustainable By Tara Milburn, founder and CEO of Ethical Swag Social and corporate gatherings are re-emerging, out of the virtual sphere and back to in-person activity. With them, the need for catering and foodservice professionals is on a steady incline. But the return to those catering engagements comes with changed … [Read more...] about A Greener Plate
Fresh Ideas
Talented event planners share 10 ways they’re adding memorable touches to an already beautiful canvas—the great outdoors By Sara Perez Webber Starry skies, dappled sunlight, fragrant flowers, gentle breezes—outdoor events come with an innate ambience. Yet even natural beauty can be enhanced. We asked event planners from across the country to share the ways they’re making … [Read more...] about Fresh Ideas
Create a Buzz on a Budget
Three best practices for DIY public relations By Darryl Brisebois, media relations manager of Mackasey Howard Communications More than one proverbial door closed during the pandemic. Conferences were put indefinitely on hold, weddings delayed, hotel events canceled altogether. But as in-person activity hazards a return across all those silos, many more doors are … [Read more...] about Create a Buzz on a Budget