Tag: food allergies

Putting out "fires" at events is part of a meeting planner's job description. What procedures do you have in place to manage them successfully?
Duty of Care July 31, 2015

How to Avoid Food Allergy Catastrophes at Events

Duty of Care July 31, 2015

I hate to be a downer, but when was the last time you thought about the worst case scenario at your event? Catastrophes can come in many forms: hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, acts of terrorism, bombings, riots, medical pandemic, attendee accidents or death. Having procedures in place to handle situations is key to ensuring guest safety, whether you’re a meeting or event planner, a travel director or representative of a corporation. It’s your responsibility (it falls under your duty of care) to your attendees while at your event. Aside from these five standard safety measure all meeting planners and travel directors can…

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Stock epinephrine laws can help keep attendees safe at meetings
Duty of Care Food Allergies Laws & Regulations May 14, 2015

Historic Law Makes Georgia Events Safer for Attendees

Duty of Care Food Allergies Laws & Regulations May 14, 2015

Last week, the governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, signed a bill into law which makes Georgia events safer for attendees with food allergies. Georgia SB126 allows places of public accommodation such as restaurants, hotels and convention centers to stock epinephrine — the first-line medication to treat anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. In light of the fact that nearly 50 percent of fatal food allergic reactions are triggered by food consumed outside the home and to foods that were thought to be safe,* allowing event venues to obtain epinephrine auto-injectors provides a huge sense of relief for food allergy sufferers who attend events in Georgia. According to the Convention…

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Food Allergies
Laws & Regulations May 16, 2014

Eight Ways Meeting Planners Can Advocate for Guests with Food Allergies

Laws & Regulations May 16, 2014

From employee picnics and business lunches to association conferences and corporate conventions, food-allergic employees and event participants have a lot to navigate when at work or business and social functions . As professional meeting professionals, we have a duty of care at all times. People must be able to trust us with their health and safety while they are at the meetings and events we plan. To justify that trust, we must make the care of our event participants, supplier partners, exhibitors, speakers, sponsors and staff our first concern, treating them as individuals and respecting their dignity and their needs. That includes ensuring…

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Jar and glass or milk, several brown egg and a six slices of bread on a plate on a wooden table egg allergies
Dietary Needs Food Allergies May 14, 2014

A Closer Look at Wheat, Milk and Egg Allergies

Dietary Needs Food Allergies May 14, 2014

A Closer Look at Wheat, Milk and Egg Allergies In Monday’s post “10 Things Meeting Professionals Need to Know About Food Allergies” I mentioned that wheat, eggs and milk are three of the top eight foods that cause 90 percent of all allergic reactions in people worldwide. As part of my continuing recognition of Food Allergy Awareness Week (May 11-18), I’m going to provide a closer look at wheat, egg and milk allergies and where they are found in meeting menus. So many foods these days are made with wheat, egg and/or milk that allergic individuals should pay close attention to…

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Food Allergies May 12, 2014

10 Things Event Professionals Need to Know About Food Allergies

Food Allergies May 12, 2014

Event professionals and their catering partners must be prepared to meet the needs of food-allergic event participants. It could mean the difference between an enjoyable experience or the unfortunate death of an attendee. In honor of Food Allergy Awareness Week (May 11-18), here are 10 things you should know. FACT #1 Globally, researchers estimate 220-250 million people may suffer from a food allergy. In the US, nearly 15 million people have food allergies. In Europe, 17 million people are afflicted. FACT #2 A study released by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2013 notes that the prevalence…

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Event Budgeting
Event Planning Skills Food Allergies April 8, 2014

How to Keep Dietary Restrictions from Sinking Your Event Budget

Event Planning Skills Food Allergies April 8, 2014

Meeting planners are worried about many things when thinking about accommodating guests with special dietary needs, but one of the major fears is the cost. This concern needs to be addressed up front and throughout the planning and budgeting process with both your suppliers and your attendees so you aren’t sinking your event budget. Take a recent question I received after a webinar I gave for Collinson Media. Cathy just hosted a conference for 4,300 people. Of the 458 special meal requests she received, 41 were halal and 12 were kosher. With seven meal functions during the three-day conference, that equated…

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2014 Allie Award Winner
Thrive! in the News March 26, 2014

Best Corporate Event for Walk for Food Allergy Atlanta

Thrive! in the News March 26, 2014

For the past 24 years the Atlanta events community has come together for a night of celebration and camaraderie to recognize the best in the industry. Known as the Allie Awards and similar to the Oscars, Golden Globes and Grammys, the event honors the achievements and talent within the Atlanta event industry. From technical production to catering, event and wedding planning to photography, invitation and floral design to entertainment, the more than 30 categories showcase the breadth and skill of the more than 300 individuals in attendance who, each and every day, have the opportunity to help their clients use events to come…

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gluten-free oatmeal with fruit is a great solution for diabetics, celiacs and food allergic guests.
Food Allergies Medical Conditions August 13, 2013

How to Read a Banquet Menu

Food Allergies Medical Conditions August 13, 2013

This is the first in a series of posts on evaluating hotel banquet menus for event attendees with dietary needs. If you’ve done your due diligence and asked your guests if they have dietary needs, great job! – but that’s only half the battle. Trying to figure out what to serve everyone when you have guests with food allergies, celiac disease or diabetes, others who are vegan, vegetarians or raw and yet others with cultural or religious beliefs that require a specific diet can be daunting. Allergens are often disguised even in well-labeled banquet menus, and just because you’ve offered…

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Lent dietary practices during meetings
Recipes Religious Dietary Practices February 26, 2013

Lent Brings Challenges for Event Planners When Menu Planning

Recipes Religious Dietary Practices February 26, 2013

Two weeks ago the season of Lent began on Wednesday, after a traditional pancake supper the night before. During this annual ritual, millions of Christians all around the world commence a 40-day period of sacrifice, reflection and “spiritual housecleaning” in preparation for Easter. Though the exact timing varies between sects, the liturgical season typically starts on Ash Wednesday and ends just before Easter Sunday, and is meant to represent the period Jesus wandered alone in the desert. The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon work “lencten,” which means spring. Similar to making New Year’s resolutions, some use the time to…

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