When it comes to catering for corporate events, it's important to get it right. One common corporate event is a training day. If you want to cater a successful training day, working with a professional catering service can be the answer. That way you give your team the food they need and enjoy, while still keeping them on track. You also don't have to worry about making any kind of food yourself, or purchasing food from another location. When it comes to catering Sydney has options for everything you need, and Laissez-faire Catering is here to help your training day go right. 

The Importance of Food for Your Training Day

Anytime people are asked to spend a day in training, it can be a very exhausting time for them. Due to that, the food they're served is often a highlight of the experience. If you want to keep your team focused and interested, providing them with plenty of great food can help. Additionally, the catering choices you're making are a reflection of your company. You have to ask yourself some questions before you make a decision on Sydney corporate catering. These include questions such as:

• Do you want to choose a catering service that offers and advertises sustainable business practices?
• Do you want to select a high-end dining experience for your team on their training day?
• Would you prefer to choose a casual affair, making it far easier for your team to mingle?

All of those options say something different about your company, and the kinds of values it has and holds. If you're looking for the best catering Sydney has to offer on your training day, you'll want to look at much more than just the cost of the catering. The sustainability of the company's practices, the quality of the food, and the style and options available all matter. When you select Laissez-faire Catering, you can choose from a wide variety of foods and options to make your training day easier on your team and more successful, overall.

Trends for Your Training Day Catering Needs

If you're interested in "culinary globetrotting," you'll want to select a company that offers that in their menu. Catering for corporate events can be much more enjoyable and interesting when there are a number of unique food selections. By picking a catering service that specialises in national dishes, you can get some excellent options to get your team talking. Some of these might include:

• Spanish Paella that allows your team to serve as much as they want.
• Vietnamese food with rice-paper rolls providing a shared experience.
• Middle Eastern cuisine like falafels and shwarma, which can also accommodate Halal and other dietary restrictions.
• Brazilian barbecue for a unique flavour profile.

You can also consider street food. The vendors of these foods have revolutionised their sector within the last decade. Because of that, the service, food, and delivery have all advanced to a level that's appropriate for Sydney corporate catering. A number of healthy and exciting options are now provided, making it easier than ever to have great food at your company's training day.

Don't forget to think about health-focused catering for corporate events like your training day. There's recently been a renewed focus on healthy eating, and a number of caterers are starting to offer a wider variety of vegetarian and vegan options. That gives them the chance to work with a wider client base, but can also provide good health benefits to people who might not typically eat these kinds of foods. A lot of Sydney corporate catering options will accommodate dietary and allergy concerns, including intolerance to items like gluten and dairy products.

Different Ways to Eat at a Training Day

To help everyone at the training day event get to know one another consider shared platters, canapes, and grazing tables. That provides a constant flow of food, and gets your team socialising and mingling. You can also pick a venue where you want to dine, and Laissez-faire Catering partners with a number of different places such as The State Library of NSW, the Australian National Maritime Museum, Urban Winery Sydney, and Harbour 220.

Ready to take your Sydney corporate catering to the next level? Make an enquiry today. Contact us online or over the phone, and make sure you plan early for the best catering experience. We can be reached at (02) 9209 4810 or online through our contact page. We're here and ready to help your training day be a big success.

The time to start planning for your company's 2020 conferences is now! Starting early on your event planning gives you the chance to make sure everything is perfect. You'll be able to take your time planning, connect with others for ideas, and secure the best venues and Sydney corporate catering services.

Why Should You Start Planning Your 2020 Conference Now?

The best venues and caterers are booked months in advance. If you want your event to really shine, you need to book a location as soon as possible — and that begins with research. You're not going to find the perfect venue overnight, nor are you going to be able to develop your catering menu immediately. Starting your planning now gives you time to really let the event reveal itself to you.

Here are the major advantages of starting early:

• Don't get out booked. What happens if you wait too long, and can't find any available venues? You'll just have to settle for the venues that are available.
• Get better rates. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to be able to get a great deal. Rates are going to rise closer to the date, as demand will also rise.
• Plan more thoroughly. With more time, you can ensure that the occasion goes off without a hitch — something especially important for a large event.
•  Get information to you attendees. The earlier you have a venue, the earlier you can tell your attendees where they're going, so you can plan ahead.
• Plan for dietary restrictions. If you need to poll attendees regarding allergies and dietary restrictions, you will need additional planning time.
• Get it out of the way. Undoubtedly, you're a busy person who has other responsibilities. Getting the planning over with means you won't get bogged down if you have other priorities.
• Avoid any last minute issues. If a problem comes up, it'll come up now... not just before the event. You'll be better prepared and be able to reduce your risk.
• Create a complete menu. The most memorable part of any business gathering is the food. Start crafting the menu now to make sure it's perfect by the time the conference begins.

There are many things that should be handled as soon as possible, and planning for a 2020 conference is one of them. 2020 is just around the corner, and if you haven't planned for your major events yet, you may find yourself having to rush later on.

Where Should You Start?

A conference is a tremendous undertaking. Many people don't start their conference planning immediately because they are feeling overwhelmed. But breaking your planning down into distinct steps and stages can help you manage your planning more effectively.

Start with your head count and your general idea for the event. How long will the conference run? What general location should the conference be in? Will it need to be closer to the airport or farther from it? All these questions will help you with our decision-making later on.

Take the time to consider your guests, who they are, and what they like. Plan an appropriate theme, and eventually that will lead you to the ideal venue. By planning ahead, you won't need to settle for whatever is available at the last minute.

There are some distinct advantages to connecting with a caterer before you select a venue. At Laissez-faire, we know the best venues in the area, and we're able to help customers find the venues that best suit the needs for their event. Not every venue is suitable to every occasion, and catering for corporate events in particular can require specific things from a venue. Contact Laissez-faire Today to Get Started Do you have a conference coming up in 2020? The time to book a caterer and a venue is now.

Contact Laissez-faire today to get started.

You can call us at (02) 9209 4810 or make an enquiry online. 

After two successful editions in 2014 and 2016, the international arts conferences - Communicating the Arts and Culture Business - will return to Australia this year. Laissez-faire has been selected as the catering partner for these two prestigious events.

Exclusive Sydney Venues for the International Arts Conferences

These events will be made possible through collaboration with global partners. The Australian National Maritime Museum will be the main host partner of both conferences. The Art Gallery of New South Wales will also host elements of the formal and social programmes. The conferences will be held in collaboration with Tessitura and Platforme 10. Catering will be provided by Laissez-faire Catering.

Learn more about the Sydney International Arts Conferences

Across two weeks, the two leading international conferences will bring over 500 cultural leaders, senior arts professionals and innovators together. Expert speakers at this event represent Zambia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Denmark, United States, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Australia. The purpose of these conferences is to accommodate the sharing of best cultural practices from all over the world. This allows for development opportunities within the international and national arts sector.

Communicating the Arts will be held across 12-14 November, 2019. The focus will be on Cultural Leadership. In particular, the conference asks:

• What does it mean to be a leader in the 21st century?
• Who leads the conversations in the cultural world?
• Has digital turned arts institutions into followers or leaders?

Over three days, the conference will explore cultural leadership along four key axes:

Being Bold, Connecting, Truth Telling and (Re)inventing. Culture Business will be hosted from 21-22 November, 2019. This year the focus is on the Art of Fundraising. Culture Business examine cultural philanthropy by questioning the issues facing fundraisers today. It will ask:

• How does one prospect, cultivate and retain a corporate sponsor?
• How can a crisis be transformed into an opportunity?
• What are the steps involved in designing, adopting and sticking to an effective long-term fundraising strategy?
• How can we best engage with our boards and committees?
• What type of development staffing structure is most conducive to success in fundraising?

The two programmes will feature a dynamic mix of masterclasses, case studies, keynotes, panel discussions and workshops, in group and in one-to-one learning opportunities. Interactive exercises such as Worldcafé, Knowledge Mixer and Learning Safari ensure delegates get the most out of the conference content. The social programmes include backstage visits and evening receptions at partner institutions, encouraging network development.

Laissez-faire Catering is excited to be involved in this enriching cultural programme. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram for behind the scenes preparations. 

How to Organise Sydney CBD Office Catering

Few things can test your office organisational skills as much as a party or event! Catering is what brings many office events to life -- and it's why a lot of employees attend office-related events to begin with. Sydney CBD is one of the busiest cities for corporates and  that means we see a lot of  corporate breakfasts, lunches and  conferences in the city.   Yet with so many factors to account for, where do you even get started?

Here are our tips to organise office catering in Sydney CBD.

Planning Your Sydney CBD Office Catering for Corporate Breakfasts, Lunches and Conferences

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner catering will all be handled differently. During breakfasts and lunches, a larger variety of lighter fare is often provided. During a dinner, it's more likely you'll be planning a few heavier meals.

Being in Sydney CBD, it's important that you find a local caterer who can deliver on the day or set up at your office of venue in the city.

Before you make any decisions, consider the following:

• Is the office event going to have any type of theme? If you already have an idea in mind, your catering company can work with you to plan the perfect menu.
• What dietary restrictions do you need to plan for? Consider the fact that you don't necessarily know whether some employees may have restrictive diets or need specific types of food. Make sure you ask people to let you know of any restrictions when they RSVP.
• What type of food does your office generally like? Every office is different. Some Sydney offices are more modern and contemporary while others want comfort foods. A wide selection of food may be called for if you aren't sure.
• Which beverages will you serve? Beverages are often an important factor when it comes to an event. Coffee, tea, and other beverages will complement your food.

Once you have a preliminary idea of what you want, you can begin organizing the event itself -- including figuring out how many people will attend and contacting a professional caterer. That's where we come in!

Organize Your Guests for the Office Event

How many people are going to be coming to your catered event? Before you contact a caterer, you'll need to know roughly how many heads are going to be served. It will also be useful for your caterer to know where your office or venue is located in Sydney CBD so they can estimate travel time and whether they can deliver or set up at your office.

Add the event to the office calendar, email or otherwise contact those involved, and make sure you have a reliable head count for the event. Keep in mind that you'll need a buffer to allow for a certain number of additional people to come.

Contacting Your Sydney CBD Caterer

Once you have your basic information in place -- the type of food you're interested in, the date, and the head count -- it's time to call the caterer. Many caterers are booked months in advance in Sydney, especially during busy holiday periods. Your caterer will be able to tell you what food they'll have available (including fresh, seasonal produce), and make suggestions as to your corporate breakfast, lunch or conference menu.

Contacting your caterer fairly early on in the process is usually advised, as they'll be able to direct you to the appropriate types of food for your service, as well as making suggestions for desserts and drinks that the staff may like. In addition to this, you may need to make provisions for things such as chairs, tables, and serving tables -- many caterers are able to help with this, as well.

If the event is a complex one, such as an awards ceremony or a banquet that requires catering in Sydney CBD, your caterer will also schedule themselves in a way that will be non-disruptive to the event itself, while helping to plan floor space so that the food is featured but not in the way.

With a little work, you can create an office event in Sydney that the employees will talk about for months to come... as well as ensuring that the office event is as effective as it is memorable. 

What's Next?

For more information about planning the perfect office event in Sydney CBD, contact the experts at Laissez-Faire Catering today. Make an enquiry  or give us a call on (02) 9209 4810.   We can't wait to hear from you!

Even though there are numerous tasks involved in properly planning a conference, you can use our helpful checklist to make sure you don't leave anything out. From talking with the caterers to choosing the venue and sending out invites, here's everything you need to know to organise your next conference. 

Ideally, you will want to start the planning process 16 to 18 months in advance. The larger the event, the more time you will need to plan. If you don't have 16 to 18 months to prepare for your next event, you can adjust the suggested time guideline below to meet your needs. 

16-18 Months Before the Event

Set Goals with Your Planning Committee

First, you need to set goals and objectives for your event. What is the purpose of the event? Next, you're going to build a planning committee that can help you bring these goals to life. The planning committee will need to determine how many attendees you are going to invite, which will help in determining how much space you need. This is also the point at which you will set an exact date for the event to take place. 

Select date

Work out the Budget

Your planning committee will also be in charge of developing a preliminary budget as well as soliciting sponsorship. Even if you already have a budget in place to pay for the event, soliciting sponsorship is an excellent way to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. 

Find a Venue

Now you will want to choose a venue. Keep in mind there will likely be several venues that can accommodate the space and purpose of your event, so you'll want to visit each one in person to get an idea of which one is the best fit. Once you choose which venue is best suited to meet the event's needs, you'll want to secure it with a deposit.

Think about Themes

If the event is going to have a theme, you need to pinpoint any specifics, and you'll also start incorporating theme specifics into your event's marketing plan. You might find it helpful to build a website centered around the event and its theme, or at least a page on your current website or company intranet. This page can even used as an the event registration platform. 

Develop Event Master Plan

Send out Invitations and Finalise Any Contracts

As far as "save the date" notices, you can send them via postal mail, email, or both. And if any additional contracts need to be secured with providers, such as hotel accommodations, this is the point you will want to secure them. 

12-14 Months Before the Event

Round Up the Speakers

About a year in advance, you will want to secure speakers for the event. Don't forget to line up a list of substitute speakers just in case something was to happen and one or more of the original speakers cannot make it to the conference. To entice speakers, you will want to assure them you will take care of their lodging and food expenses. 

Identify and contact sponsors/partners

Start Marketing

It's also at this time that you will need to start marketing the conference and its registration rates. All of this information should be clearly outlined on the event's website. 

Nine to 10 Months Before the Event

Start Accepting Registrations

This is when you open registration to those you invited. You are likely not paying for attendees' hotels, but you should consider teaming up with certain local hotels and secure special rates for attendees to take advantage of. You will want to display these special rates on the event's website. 

Four to Six Months Before the Event

Finalise the Agenda

You will use this period of time to finalise the event's speakers and agenda. Don't forget to update the event's website with speaker information. You'll also need to prepare for the event's audio and visual needs as well as properly plan for anyone who may attend in a wheelchair. 

Three Months Before the Event

Choose a Caterer

See our conference menus for ideas:

• Conference Menu #1
• Conference Menu #2
• Conference Menu #3

Liaison with presenters/speakers

Venue/logistics planning: 

• Investigate need for any special permits, licenses, insurance, etc.
• Determine and arrange all details re menu, A/V equipment, registration set-up, parking, signage, etc.
• Review security needs
• Create draft event script

Ensure you have copies of phone numbers, seating arrangement and guest list 

Check-in with all parties involved if everyone is on track 

Provide final registration numbers to caterer 

Three Weeks Before the Event

Final Confirmations

Confirm conference arrangements, such as those made with caterers and also assign session moderators. 

waPrinting

If any printed material is going to be used during the event, such as seating designation signs and brochures, you will need to have them printed at this time. 

One Week Before the Event

Walkthrough

Audio and video equipment should be set up during this time too.

Day of the Event

Take it all in!

Relax and rest assured your extensive conference planning has paid off. 

This checklist is a great starting point. If you need some help along the way, Laissez-faire Catering can cater to all your event needs. Call us today! Tell us about your event and we'll give you a quote and get started.