Redefining event catering with chef-driven menus, wellness-focused offerings and immersive dining experiences.
There is always one thing that stands out for attendees during an event: the food.
Planners often try to one-up themselves from event to event, looking for ways to wow and inspire their guests’ palettes.
Smart Meetings caught up with Suzanne Halperin, head of meetings and events, luxury and lifestyle Americas at IHG Hotels & Resorts, to get a better sense of what trends she has seen emerge within the catering world and what sort of new additions IHG have added to their catering experience.
Smart Meetings What kind of experiences is IHG crafting for guests and groups in their catering experiences?
Suzanne Halperin Within IHG’s luxury & lifestyle portfolio, we understand that the traditional approach to meetings and events is dramatically changing, especially when it comes to food. Across our properties, we are focusing on elevating our menus by leaning into carefully curated packages that are chef-driven and offer guests an opportunity to immerse themselves in the culinary experience. We pride ourselves on delivering a restaurant-quality experience by infusing each property’s individual chef’s inspiration into the clients’ experience.
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SM What are some key culinary offerings IHG has available for meeting planners in shaping their event?
SH We believe that no two events are alike. So, across our luxury and lifestyle portfolio at IHG, we provide a variety of culinary offerings to create a truly unique experience no matter the occasion.
As an example, Kimpton’s No Ordinary Agenda is designed to take our clients on a culinary journey from start to finish. Our chefs collaborate closely with planners to carefully consider all of the groups’ interests and thoughtfully program culinary and beverage offerings to keep the group energized and engaged throughout the day. This can look like starting your day with a protein-enriched acai bowl followed by a mid-morning smoothie bar with shots of B-12, a nutrient-packed lunch and an afternoon coffee boost with cold brew, espresso or latte (add a scoop of ice cream for an affogato!).
SM What kind of alcohol-free drinks are available? What is the importance of having this option available?
SH Over the years, we’ve seen younger generations embrace a sober-curious lifestyle, a shift that closely ties to an overall focus on health and wellness. While we’ve always offered robust non-alcoholic options, we have expanded our creativity when it comes to zero-proof bars for our guests to have an alcohol-free experience throughout the day and into the evening. Our teams are constantly coming up with interesting and refreshing spirit-free cocktails and energy-boosting beverages to allow all guests to feel included and cared for.
SM What kind of partners are you working with to make these experiences? Do you work with local sellers? What is the process?
SH All across IHG, we are committed to working with suppliers that best meet the needs of our organization, brands, hotels, and guests. Our luxury and lifestyle hotels work to develop relationships with vendors that help drive significant value and innovation and invite all prospective partners to register their interest in working with us through our supplier portal.
Read more: Culinary Experience in Vegas Nourished Relationships
SM How has IHG Kitchen evolved as people are looking to incorporate wellness into their events?
SH Over 82% of Americans prioritize wellness, a value that increasingly shapes their travel choices. We strive to create an environment that aligns with this by incorporating local and seasonal ingredients into our menu offerings. Additionally, our chefs work closely with planners to create tailored culinary menus that complement planned group activities, such as serving acai bowls and kombucha shots ahead of morning meetings or serving delicious smoothies after a yoga session.
Read more: What One Thing? Crafting Culinary Experiences with Thomas Whelan
SM Tell us more about the Summer Soiree series. How did it come to be? Which hotels is it featured at? And are there plans to have similar events like these in the future?
SH Following the success of Winter Chalet, our inaugural IHG luxury & lifestyle seasonal and experiential series last year, Summer Soiree picks up the banner of creating a true sense of time and place across all of our hotels in the portfolio. This summer, we featured experiences designed to evoke the quintessential summer vibe through multi-sensory offerings, lush decor, curated playlists and expertly crafted food and drinks.
The series has been specially adapted for groups at specific locations like the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia and InterContinental San Francisco, where the meeting and event spaces are outfitted with summer-inspired furnishings and lush floral arrangements. Their meetings and events spaces have been further programmed out to include unique features such as vinyl listening stations, interactive art, and pop-up beverage carts, complemented by specialized catering menus. I especially love the seasonal add-ons the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia team offered, from their burratta tartine to the mason jar bar and zero-proof cocktail carts; everything was about embracing the flavors of summer in a meaningful way.
