No matter how big or small your business is, hosting a corporate dinner party is a great way to make a few business deals. It also gives you an opportunity to gather all your clients and employees and spend some quality time together. However, for such an event to be a success, you need to plan things in advance and pay attention to the details. Moreover, planning things in advance also means it wouldn’t take that much effort to make the dinner successful. So, from food to the venue, here are a few things you need to keep in mind when planning a business dinner.
Date and time as a priority number one
Assuming that you’ll have more than a few business clients coming, postponing the date or time can make you appear unprofessional, which is probably the last thing you want to achieve with this kind of event. So, you want to make sure the timing works for everybody. This also means that you should avoid national holidays, and perhaps choose a day that is closer to the weekend. Moreover, make sure to send all the invitations at least a week or two before the dinner, so your guests can find a babysitter if they have kids and simply organize their day.
Choose the best place for it
The next most important thing is choosing the right location. First, take into consideration the size of your party and your budget. If there won’t be that many guests, you can arrange the dinner at your office grounds. However, if you’re planning a bigger event, or if you’re inviting some people whom you want to impress, it’s better to choose a banquet hall or even a 5-star hotel. In this case, make sure to visit your venue before the party to ensure that it has everything you need. Of course, don’t forget to book it on time as well.
Organize a buffet
Needless to say, you need to offer some good food if you want the dinner to be a success. A buffet is usually the safest choice, since it allows your guests to choose what they like the most. Setting up a grazing table is a good idea too, as it would allow your guests to sample different choices before choosing what to put on their plate, and it helps keep the atmosphere relaxed. This is a common trend in the Land Down Under, especially for smaller events. So, if you happen to be from Australia, you should have no trouble finding professional catering from Sydney that can help you with the buffet and grazing table.
Secure the place
Since you are holding a business dinner party, you are responsible for the safety of all your guests. To have one less thing to worry about, and to make your guests feel safe and comfortable, consider hiring professional security guards for the event. Of course, the number of guards you should have depends on the size of the party, but they should not let anybody uninvited get in and disturb your guests. Speaking of staff, your staff should know the number of guests and their names – nobody should arrive wondering whether you’re there and where they should sit.
Let the party start
Finally, it might not be a bad idea to make a checklist of all the things you need to do, so you can actually check everything before the party. Once you do check everything and ensure that nothing is missing, the party is ready to begin. Arrive early so you can again make sure everything looks the way it should, and greet every guest individually as they arrive. Additionally, when they do arrive, welcome them to their table and ensure that the table meets their needs – some guests might not want to sit near the kitchen or the restroom for one reason or another, and you need to be there to accommodate them.
The success of your business dinner can also mean the success of your business, so it’s really important that everything goes smoothly. Therefore, keep in mind the listed tips, start planning everything at least a few weeks in advance, and there will be nothing for you to worry about.