Catering to benefit your hotel: the crucial steps that should be taken
Offering catering services allows you to tap into a new source of income for your hotel. It provides opportunities to host events such as weddings, corporate meetings, conferences, and other special occasions. These can bring in significant revenue, but you must prepare and understand the capital cost to benefit from catering.
Step 1. Double-checking
Having catering services available for your guests adds convenience and enhances their overall experience. They can enjoy high-quality meals and refreshments without leaving the hotel premises, making their stay more enjoyable.
You can also attract more customers, including those looking for event venues. This may lead to increased occupancy rates as guests choose to stay at your hotel for both accommodation and event purposes.
OPERA Sales & Catering is an integrated PMS module that helps hotels organize and successfully achieve this outcome. The module’s primary task is to monitor the status of the rooms; are they busy or free? Once you know this, the desired space can be put on the waiting list.
Step 2. Planning of catering menu
A custom menu is essential because it determines how much food you need per person at your catered event. It allows you to highlight and clarify what should be included in your budget while accommodating people with dietary restrictions.
Menu planning principles include balance, nutritional quality, aesthetics, and variety, which include color, texture, flavors, shapes, and the size of food. The equipment and personnel available to produce and serve the menu are also important considerations.
The OPERA Sales & Catering module provides a detailed menu from which the customer can choose. In addition to the standard banquet menu, it is possible to add exclusive dishes that a particular customer wants. This also covers drinks and any other items the hotel can provide.
At the same time, standard meal options can be transferred from the menu and added to a specific event. The module is very flexible; you can change anything on the prepared menu, including the cost. When the event is created, the restaurant staff can see the number of servings for each dish.
A Banquet Event Order (BEO) document is created from the module. It details all the event components and is given to the customer to show the degree of preparation and organization they have entrusted you with. The BEO can also be sent to the kitchen so the chefs can check the number of dishes and the menu’s composition. The banquet service determines the seating arrangements and the menu assigned to each table. This document has a clear structure so employees can use it on their tablets or mobile phones.
Step 3. Making an equipment list
Nothing is worse than arriving at the venue and realizing you have left something important behind, so you must know what equipment you need to start a catering business. But whatever the criteria, serving platters and utensils are necessary for any catering service.
Equipment and services can also be added to the OPERA Sales & Catering module, such as a microphone, stage, DJ, interpreter, or airport transfers. As with exclusive dishes, exceptional services can all be attached directly to the event.
Hosting events and offering catering services creates marketing opportunities for your hotel. You can promote your hotel to a larger audience and potentially attract new guests through word of mouth, positive reviews, and event promotions.
You can also collaborate with local businesses, event planners, and other organizations by offering catering services. This can lead to mutually beneficial partnerships and networking opportunities, further boosting your hotel’s visibility and reputation.
Julien Petitdemange, Sales Manager
HRS France
