We asked event pros to identify top food-and-beverage-related trends and concerns in the latest edition of MPI's Meetings Outlook survey. Here's what they said.
"Food and beverage inflation has resulted in the elimination of at least one meal or break component in my agendas."
That’s what Mary Anne Whittle (MPI Arizona Sunbelt Chapter), operations manager, Arizona Farm Bureau, said in her survey comments. "Additionally, new line-item fees and surcharges are creating a more strained contract negotiation process. As a planner, I feel like we are nickel and dimed with nonsense service charges and usage fees… I am walking away from more deals than I ever have before because of these ridiculous charges."
Just as F&B isn’t the only event budget line to be affected by inflation, suppliers are also being impacted by the cost increases.
"Cost is the biggest push back any of us are getting," explained Shurrie Potts (MPI Houston Area Chapter), group sales manager, Hyatt Regency Conroe. "Cost of food is high, cost of flights is high, cost of transportation is high and meeting/event costs are high. Trying to figure out how to make more with less is the daily struggle."
In which of the following ways are F&B costs affecting what you’re able to offer your event stakeholders?
What aspects of event F&B are you most interested in learning about?
In such inflationary times, it’s no surprise that the vast majority of survey respondents want to learn more about getting the most for their F&B budgets. However, the fact that "reducing food waste" and "sustainable options" rank so highly indicates that many event professionals are truly aware of and would like to minimize our industry’s impact on the environment. For some of the lower-ranked items—such as dine-arounds and individualization—it’s likely that respondents feel they have a solid grasp of the topics.
