Sharing a meal: a simple but powerful gesture for business
Organizing a business event without a meal has become less common. Wouldn’t you agree? Whether it’s a cocktail reception, cold buffet, stations and platters or something else, food brings people together.
The next time you’re planning a business event, pay special attention to the quality of the meal. Make sure you tailor it to the occasion, especially if you want to boost the event’s performance and achieve tangible benefits.
Creating human connections to enhance the impact of your events
A study by Oxford University reveals that people who regularly eat with others feel happier, more connected and more satisfied with their lives. Better still, these meals strengthen social bonds and foster a genuine sense of community.
For networking or any other business gathering, this is exactly what we’re looking for. The food presented is an ideal ice-breaker. They serve to :
- Connect people in a natural way;
- Make the experience more human, warmer, more focused on shared pleasure;
- Lighten the mood for more reserved guests;
- Create opportunities for spontaneous conversation (one guest asks what’s in a bite, another recommends a dish);
- Arouse curiosity (e.g.: a local ingredient or an original presentation attracts attention);
- Provide an excuse to move around the room and meet new people, especially in cocktail or station formulas;
- Enhance the company’s brand image, through menu choices consistent with its values (local, refined, healthy, sustainable).
Here’s how a well-thought-out culinary experience can turn your meeting into a strategic success.
A good meal to facilitate professional exchanges and networking
Being at ease with others is easier over a meal. It’s the same with family and friends, and it’s no different in business. Creating lasting bonds becomes more natural over a delicious catered BBQ or decadent buffet.
According to the same research, 76% of respondents believe that eating together is a great way to bring people together. At your event, the meal and snack breaks represent opportunities to:
- Deepen exchanges
- Create new relationships;
- Open up possibilities for collaboration.
A culinary experience that strengthens bonds and memories
A shared meal doesn’t just nourish the body. It activates the emotional memory. What will your guests remember? A specific moment when they met a new partner on their way to pick up dessert.
That’s why culinary experiences contribute to the performance of your business events. They are memorable. They give a tangible flavour to your corporate message, your launch or your team-building objectives. The memory is reinforced, as are the bonds and satisfaction of everyone involved.
The importance of gathering around a meal also applies to all employee recognition occasions. Taking time out from the office and the daily grind is a welcome gesture.
Savor the difference with La Distinction
With over 10 meal formulas to choose from, and a wide range of possible combinations, you’ll have plenty of scope to create an event that stands out from the crowd.
Turn your next get-together into a gastronomic and social success.
- Meal formulas adapted to dietary preferences and restrictions;
- Inspiring reception spaces that can be configured to suit your networking objectives;
- A top-notch caterer to support you in planning and execution.
