Monthly Archives: April 2016

Community Duty of Care April 26, 2016

Planning for LGBT Guests – Based on What I Know About Planning for Guests With Special Dietary Needs

Community Duty of Care April 26, 2016

I have seen a tremendous amount of social-media backlash against “religious freedom” laws in North Carolina (HB2) and Mississippi (HB1523), both of which allow businesses and nonprofits to discriminate against LGBT people in accordance with their religious beliefs. More than 100 major corporations (Google, Apple, Bank of America, and other powerhouses) oppose the North Carolina ordinance. Pepsi, Choice Hotels and Hyatt have publicly opposed the Mississippi law. And, of course, meetings are pulling out in droves. But organizations that cannot afford to cancel at the last minute have no choice but to meet in these states. Planning for LGBT attendees is similar to…

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Community Meetings & Events Things We Love Trends April 19, 2016

What Event Planners Can Learn from Ancient Rome?

Community Meetings & Events Things We Love Trends April 19, 2016

The culinary world seems to discover a new dining trend every five minutes, but when it comes down to it, banquets haven’t changed all that much. There might be some inspiration and ideas event planners can learn from ancient Rome. I recently read this very entertaining and informative piece about history’s ten greatest banquets, and I was struck by what they had in common, all the way back to the days of Nero. They were once-in-a-lifetime events full of entertainment and surprise. They were opportunities for people to show off their wealth. But most importantly, whether it was dormice sprinkled with…

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Meetings & Events Trends April 12, 2016

How to Diversify the Plate While Respecting the Palate

Meetings & Events Trends April 12, 2016

Like most event planners, I read a lot of restaurant menus. I like to keep in touch with trends and ways to diversify the plate while respecting the palate. One thing that continues to surprise me is just how similar they are. At both down-home joints and white-tablecloth establishments, Americans seem to be interested in a narrow choice of meats. We will eat any part of the chicken, but most restaurants focus on the breast. When it comes to beef, we eat about half the cow, but only about 10 percent (e.g., strip loin, tenderloin, sirloin, and rib eye) ends…

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Community Dietary Needs Duty of Care Food Allergies Food Service Lifestyle Choices Medical Conditions Meetings & Events Registration Religious Dietary Practices Traveling Trends April 6, 2016

Brazil Eventos & Transparency

Community Dietary Needs Duty of Care Food Allergies Food Service Lifestyle Choices Medical Conditions Meetings & Events Registration Religious Dietary Practices Traveling Trends April 6, 2016

As an international speaker and Food & Beverage expert, I’ve found at least one universal truth – allergies are present in all countries and, therefore, a place must be set at the table for attendee safety and trust. I speak on a number of topics when I travel, including legislation and legality of meetings, efficient food and beverage budgeting, custom eater menu planning, and more. Next week I’ll be in Brazil discussing important food trends from around the world and how to seamlessly incorporate these exciting trends into your meetings and events for an experience your attendees will devour. I’ve…

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