Forum Discussion

WesPreston's avatar
WesPreston
Brass Contributor
Jun 04, 2026

MGCI Training - July Topic: Food! Meals, snacks, and beverages

Getting a little ahead of ourselves, but it's a tasty topic, maybe even a little spicy. :)  

 

Are you serving food at your event? It's one of the bigger costs for many events. 

What are your venue rules and requirements? Are you locked into their services? 

How do you address folks with dietary restrictions? 

 

What questions do you have about feeding your attendees? 

 

What should you do? How can you get engaged in the conversation? 

  1. Chime in here.
  2. Do you have thoughts you'd like to contribute to the conversation? Let us know you'll be on the call!  

 

Thanks! 

 

 

2 Replies

  • HeatherCook's avatar
    HeatherCook
    Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
    Jun 08, 2026

    Love this topic, because food is never just food at events. It’s experience, logistics, cost, and inclusion all in one.

    For me, it starts with the constraints. If you are locked into venue catering, it becomes about negotiating flexibility and experience. If not, you get more creativity but also more complexity.

    Cost-wise, I focus on where food actually adds value. Key moments like coffee or networking tend to matter more than over-investing in standard meals sometimes. Supporting local independent businesses is awesome completely agree with Neil. 

    Also, dietary needs are non-negotiable. I look for inclusive menus by default, clear labeling, and making sure no one has to ask or feel like an exception.

    The questions I keep coming back to are how food supports the experience, where it matters most, and how we balance cost with impact.

  • Neil Patel's avatar
    Neil Patel
    Copper Contributor
    Jun 07, 2026

    It depends on the venue.  If the venue does not require us to use their catering service, we will source bagels, coffee and pastries for breakfast.  For lunch we would do either pizza cut in party style or sandwiches.  Our options range from Costco, Starbucks, Jimmy Johns, Publix and other local businesses.  As we are a community focused non profit, we prefer to source local to support the small businesses in our area. We also placeo out small Halloween size treats throughout the day for speakers, sponsors and attendees to grab as they move between sessions.