Catering at Venues
TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHERE TO BE

When planning a party, so many things come to mind before you even send out the invitations. But the first thing that a host or hostess will think about is "Where?" The venue can often dictate the size, duration and theme of an event, and is the springboard for the rest of the party. Accordingly, the search for a venue can begin long before the party even occurs.

Why Choose a Venue?
So why choose a venue for your special event? A banquet hall or hotel can offer similar services, so why go somewhere else? A multitude of reasons spring to mind:

• A venue is different from the traditional banquet hall or hotel experience. Venues will often offer a sense of history (a Museum), culture (an Art Gallery) or the cool and unusual (a nightclub) as opposed to the uniformity of the hotel ballroom, which, although beautiful, may not be memorable (a hotel ballroom in my city will likely be the same as one in yours.) This is especially important when entertaining out-of-town guests as you can entertain your guests while exposing them to the culture and history of the city. You are also visiting a unique, one-of-a-kind place which will leave a lasting impression, and will give an alternative view of the space not typically seen by the public.
  
• Some venues are cozy enough to feel like you are entertaining at home, offering the same intimacy but with the added space.
  
• Some venues are decorated with a certain element in mind and make themed celebrations easy to produce, with little décor required.
  
• You can choose from a preferred list whomever you wish to provide the culinary delights as you are not tied to the establishment's kitchen. This is good for two reasons: You can choose your own style of food service, and competition will get you the best possible price.
  
• A venue will be more open to a lot more creative ideas and set-ups as they work with many different contractors who have different visions and are able to think "outside the box." Hotels are less willing to depart from their standardized style due to the infrastructure that is pre-existing (i.e. menus, china, tableware, bar packages.) As you have already paid for the existing equipment in the standard hotel price, any upgrades are billed "on top." Whereas, when visiting a venue, everything is customized to your specific event, offering a completely original vision, reflecting your personal taste.
  
• Venues will traditionally allow you to choose your own suppliers (i.e. florists, décor companies) and will work with them to facilitate easy load in and load out. Other parts of your event may also be brought in by the client as well, for example, if the establishment is not licensed, they may allow you to bring in your own bar supplies under a Special Occasions Permit, saving you either corkage fees or high mark-ups.

Preferred Supplier Lists
Venues will have a list of "preferred" suppliers that they strongly recommend to service the venue. There are reasons for this list. The vendors are usually members of the service industry with proven track records, they have a good rapport with the venue, and are intimately familiar with how the venue runs. The venue has rigorously screened these suppliers and they are comfortable with the service they provide. Venues will not keep a vendor on their list that they do not have faith in. Ultimately, the vendors will work well together, communicating with each other about your event in order to provide you with seamless service.

The Landmark Commission Fee
One question that frequently arises is the growing presence of what is called a Landmark Commission Fee, typically applied by the venue to certain elements of the caterer's billing. Due largely to cut-backs, many venues are no longer offered the subsidies they once were, and must increasingly turn to their clients to offset the charges incurred from wear and tear to the venues from the large volume of traffic. As the venue must maintain its standards, the Landmark Commission fee is necessary for up-keep and allows the venue to continue running smoothly. This is a standard charge today in the industry, so don't be surprised if it is included in either your venue or caterer's billing.

In conclusion, the decision to choose a venue over a banquet hall will give you the opportunity to throw a party with a different look, feel and theme. You will have more control over what and how you present your celebration, and you will be able to choose your suppliers based on your own personal preferences, resulting in a truly unique event.