Are you new at negotiating banquet prices or do you know how hotels think about negotiating banquet food? What can and can not be negotiated during the planning process? So, what has been your experience as a meeting and event planner been when this issue comes up?

Are banquet menus prices set in stone? Some are and some are not.

Remember that hotels make most of their money from room rates. The profit margin is higher. On banquet food there is a smaller profit margin, so there is less to work with and hotels normally will not offer discounts unless there are specific requests and they really have a reason to negotiate.

Banquet food pricing consists of three items, food cost, staff labor and profit. Since the food cost and staffing takes up so much of the banquet price, it is very hard to ask your Catering Manager to just lower the price.

However, even though the hotel is reluctant to reduce prices, you still might have some options. Ask your Catering Manager to get with the Chef and come up with a menu that has a lower food cost so the hotel can still maintain their profit margin, yet allow them to lower the price of the banquet item.

I have worked with many Chefs and they always have a couple of menu items in their hip pocket that would work for both their cost and your budget.

An example of this is a banquet for a teenage YMCA group. Banquet menus may run $20 – $30++ for normal beef, chicken or fish items. However, teenagers just want to be fed and would be happier with spaghetti, meat sauce, a small tossed salad, plain rolls and a simple dessert (Chef’s choice). The food cost for this menu is much lower and therefore the hotel can still make a profit and the group can fit the price into their budget.

Another way would be to ask your Catering or Convention Service Manager to get with the Chef and ask for a simple buffet with Chef’s choice of entree, starch and dessert. This would not work for a high powered corporate event, but might work for lunch if you are just trying to feed the group. Again, the Chef can keep his food cost in line and you can fit something into your meeting budget that will work.

So, are banquet menu prices set in stone? Some are and some are not. Sometimes it is necessary to negotiate special food items and pricing in order to “make it work” for the group and the hotel.

Everybody is looking for ways to save money and cut expenses these days. One of the easiest places to cut back is on your monthly grocery budget. Weekly menu planning will allow you to budget and stick to a set amount that will be spent at the grocery store. Menu planning will save you lots of time and plenty of money and is not hard to do.

Start out by writing out a list of four or five main courses that your family would like to eat during the coming week. When you first start menu planning it may be best to select family favorites. Once you have listed your main course idea start adding side dishes that compliment the meals. Now is the time to try to make a well-balanced meal by using a good source of protein, a starch and at least one vegetable or fruit in each meal plan.

Now that you have completed four or five dinner menus, write down what you will be eating for breakfast.

If you or any other family members eat lunch at home or pack a lunch, write down what will be eaten for lunch.

By now, you should have five days worth or meals written down. Now look at your list to determine if there will be any leftovers that can be used on the remaining two days of your plan. If so, write them down.

Now you should have a plan for an entire week of meals that can be prepared at home. It is now time to make your grocery list. Go down the list and write down everything that will be needed to prepare each meal.

Now that you have your grocery list completed, take a minute or two to write down the non-food items that you need when you do your shopping. Do you need shampoo or mouthwash? Whatever it is, write it down.

Now you are ready to go to the store. Buy only the things that are on your list. You have gone to a good deal of effort to prepare this list so stick to it. Don’t purchase anything that is not on your list.

Be sure to post the meal plan on the refrigerator so you will not forget what you planned. You will soon enjoy the extra time you have and will notice that mealtime is less stressful than ever before.