Eli Gorin, CMP, CMM, vice president of global client relations at ABTS Convention Services in North Bay Village, Fla., provides the following essential items for international F&B.
- DO present clients with the option to have meals in locations that highlight the local culture, or the food that is well-known in that region. For example, if it's a coastal location, then certain seafood may be predominant in that area.
- DO check with your clients about dietary restrictions and be sure to have options that are accommodating to all.
- DON’T assume that all clients watch Bizarre Foods and are interested in diving head first into the "out there" cuisine. Just because you're in Denver, it doesn't mean that you need to order a family-style platter of Rocky Mountain Oysters.
- DO try and take people somewhat out of their comfort zones. If you're doing an event abroad but there happens to be an outpost of a local chain from back home, avoid it unless it's specifically brought up and requested. For me, international meetings are about cross-cultural education, and one of—if not the best—way to learn about other cultures is through cuisine.
