Finding Herself on the Personal Side of the Dietary Needs Registration Question
Eating at a Meeting Podcast Episode #158
Understand the Importance of the Dietary Needs Registration Question
Have you ever witnessed someone having an anaphylactic reaction? It is pretty scary.
Tune into the next episode of Eating at a Meeting LIVE to learn what my good friend and event planner Heather Herrig, CMP recently experienced to put her on the personal side of the dietary needs question on an event registration form.
Heather has been a part of the meetings & events industry since 2005 – and loves every aspect of what goes into creating amazing, inclusive, and engaging experiences. But more importantly, she’s a mom, and one whose personal experience is changing how she will handle attendee’s dietary needs at events.
Heather Herrig
Heather has been a part of the meetings & events industry since 2005 – and loves every aspect of what goes into creating amazing, inclusive, and engaging experiences. But more importantly, she’s a mom, and one who’s recently found herself on the personal side of the dietary needs question.
What do safe, inclusive & sustainable food and beverage experiences look like to you?
It always means asking first and then listening – really seeking to understand what the need is and how we can address it as completely as possible. Bottom line, we want to create experiences without barriers, where people can be and bring their true and full selves.
Do you have an example of a situation that negatively effected you and/or other individuals or groups’ food and beverage experience?
I was at one meeting (you know the one!) where a participant was actually being bullied about his dietary restriction at a group dinner. Utterly reprehensible to watch.
What do you wish people knew about what you do?
That I’m not perpetually on vacation, even though I have been able to travel to some pretty phenomenal places.
What is a best practice you use/or have seen to create safe and inclusive F&B experiences?
It makes all the difference when venues document fully my participants’/guests’ needs – on BEOs, group resumes, etc., and re-confirm with me onsite what their protocols are and how everyone will be taken care of. Creating that confidence and trust is so important.
Just for fun…What are your favorite food and drink?
I love a great cocktail (sorry – so hard to narrow down!), and I’m still not sure much can beat my mom’s chicken parm.
Links:
Connect with Heather: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn
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