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Four Essential Tips for Choosing the Right Corporate Training Venue



Corporate training is essential for any company looking to help their employees reach their potential. Given the importance of corporate training, it’s only natural for companies to want to make sure their training sessions to want to make sure that every training session is as effective and engaging as possible.


As discussed in one of our previous articles, it is often more efficient and effective to conduct corporate training at a third-party events space in Manila. This begs the question: how do I know which event space is the right one for my company’s needs? Here are a few tips to help you do just that:


Make Sure You Visit the Site


You’ve probably heard of some great corporate training venues around Metro Manila from your business connections. Suggestions should always be welcomed and considered, but make sure you visit the site before you book it. This isn’t just about seeing the place for yourself, but it’s also about gauging the venue’s location and the travel time. Ideally, you want to choose a space that is accessible for all the attendees, so choose a place with easy access to public transportation and ample parking for those bringing their own cars.


Check the List of Inclusions


Events spaces that cater to corporate training seminars will have an extensive list of inclusions that come with renting the venue. Make sure you take a look at this list carefully to help you get a clearer picture of what you’ll have on-hand on the day itself and what you may need to bring with you. Standard inclusions such as projectors, sound systems, and WiFi are must-haves.


Review Venue Set-up and Capacity


All event spaces will provide you with the capacity of their venue, but make sure to ask what kind of set-up this number reflects. Chairs and tables can be set up in a number of ways, which directly affects the number of guests a certain venue can accommodate. Similarly, how your tables and chairs are set up can have an impact on how easy it is for your participants to listen to trainers and speakers. Make sure you discuss this with your event venue representative to make sure your preferred venue can accommodate your preferred set-up and number of guests.


Does the Venue Come with Catering?


If your training session will take up the whole day, you’ll definitely want to try and choose a venue that offers in-house catering services. Food plays a big role in whole-day corporate training sessions and is often what most attendees remember the most. For whole day events, it’s often a good idea to provide a morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack. Not only does this keep participants happy, but it also helps everyone stay focused on the sessions instead of wondering where they’ll be having lunch.

A Quick Guide to Planning a Debut



The debut that we know today originated from the French word début, which means “first appearance”. This is an event where a girl makes her first appearance to her family and friends as a young woman. Although planning the perfect debut may seem to be a challenge and a headache, here are some tips to ease your worries and make the process more smooth and seamless.


1. Make Your Guest List

The first step in planning your event is to make a list of your guests. Knowing how many people you want to invite and be present on your special day, will allow you to move forward with the rest of the planning and decision making. After all, the number of guests you plan to invite will dictate a lot of things, including catering, event venue, and more.


2. Benchmark Your Budget

From your list of invitees, you can now set a preliminary budget. This will usually be a discussion among family members to know how much will be allocated to your coming-of-age party. Whatever budget you come up with initially, it’s a good idea to pad it by around 10 percent in case of any unforeseen extra expenses.


3. Decide on Your Theme and Event Scale

Now that you have a budget, you can see if your guest list needs to be shortened or if you have extra resources to allocate for more invites or other special effects to your event. This is also the time for you to decide on the theme, so you can better choose an event venue that is most suited for your party. Knowing your guest count will also help you choose the right venue with the right size.


4. Pick A Venue

Do you prefer an intimate picnic or brunch, an outdoor cocktail party, or an elegant dinner in a ballroom? Choosing the right debut venue will make a big difference in setting the right theme for your event and will make an impact on your guests too. Once you’re set with the venue, you can also call in your event stylist and caterer to ensure your debut vision comes to fruition.


5. Form Your Program

Many debuts are all about the program – from the performances to the dancing and speeches. Come up with a list of the people who you want to be part of the program, so you can also inform them in advance to prepare for their roles. Having a program will also help you know what else you will be needing and which suppliers to contact.


6. Embellish the Event

This will be the fun part. Embellishing your event is all about the extras and added features to make your debut more memorable, from your choice of dresses to choosing the cake and the giveaways. This is also the part where you consider other suppliers such as a photographer and videographer, lights and sounds, an event host, a DJ, and the list goes on depending on the theme of your event. Some venues may have more complete event packages that will lessen your headache to search for other suppliers, so this is something that you can also keep in mind. When in doubt, there are always family members and event coordinators who you can turn to.

What You Need to Know About Pre-Wedding Reception Cocktails at



When it comes to the catering services aspect of your wedding, your wedding caterer might bring up reception cocktails. Should you or should you not include cocktails in your wedding program? Here are some of the factors you can consider when deciding whether or not to hold cocktails before your wedding reception.


Ultilize your beautiful venue

Apart from the main venue hall, your event space might have features such as pocket gardens, a beach front, or other beautiful views and backdrops. Holding pre-wedding reception cocktails is a great way to fully maximise the use of your event venue while also providing more diverse photo opportunities for you and your guests.


Allow family and friends to mingle

If you have a packed reception program, pre-wedding reception cocktails are the perfect opportunity for family and friends to get to exchange greetings, converse and mingle amongst each other. Set the tone and atmosphere of what is to come for your guests with eye-catching canapés and refreshing drinks before heading in to your main reception venue.


Give time to those running late

You might have a few guests running late or coming from other obligations. Holding a cocktail hour will minimize your chances of having guests arrive late to your wedding reception, and will give them a chance to relax and mingle with your other guests as well.


Capture more moments and memories

If you planned a photo shoot with your entourage and as a couple after your wedding ceremony, having pre-wedding reception cocktails is a good opportunity to keep your guests distracted while they wait for you. Your guests might be holding their own little photo shoots at the same time too!


A quick respite before the reception

You might have gotten up early in the morning for all the wedding preparations, or perhaps haven’t even slept a few nights before the big day. Holding cocktails for your guests will allow you and your groom some time to breathe before you make your grand entrance as husband and wife. If you plan to have a change of outfit and a few make-up retouches, this will also give you the time and opportunity to do so. Use cocktail hour as time for you to sit back, relax a bit and sip a glass of wine or champagne.

4 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Catering Service for Your Event



One of the biggest challenges to planning and hosting an event is finding a good caterer that will make you and your guests happy, both in terms of food and service. There are plenty of caterers to choose from, and not all of them are created equal. Because of this, it is important that you do your due diligence.

Here are four questions you should ask a caterer before hiring them!


  1. Has anyone used them before?

    One of the best ways to choose or find good catering services is to ask your friends! Simply asking them if they know a good caterer will give you an idea of who you should and shouldn’t call! Because not only will they tell you about good experiences, but they’re likely to tell you some horror stories too. From these reviews, you will get a good initial idea of what you can do for your event or party.

  2. Can you do a food tasting? Are the flexible with special diets?

    Once you start calling caterers, ask them if you can do a food tasting. It is important that you are happy with the type and quality of food at your event. Usually, the more seasoned caterers allow for food tastings because they understand how important it can be to the client.

    In line with this, asking if they are flexible with special diets is also important. Some guests may be vegan, require halal, need things to be gluten free, etc. Being able to find a caterer that can fit these requirements and still create delicious food is like finding gold!

  3. Do they have staff? If they do, is that separate from cost?

    Some start-up catering services are unable to provide staff or can only provide staff at great cost because they will outsource the staff on the day of the event itself. This is an important question because some events require more staff than others, and if the staff is a separate cost then the entire cost of the service can suddenly become less feasible.

  4. What are the costs?

    For some, this is Question #1 due to budget constraints. Wherever it may be on the list, it is definitely an important question to ask. It is important that catering services be fair to clients with regard to what is being required and what they can properly provide. It is usually during budget discussions that adjustments need to be made


The more questions you ask a caterer, the more questions you will have. Keep asking! There is nothing more important than finding the right caterer for the occasion to keep both you and your guests happy! So ask all the questions you want and find the right catering service for you!

Tips for Choosing the Right Food for Outdoor Events



Catering Services Share Tips for Choosing the Right Food
for Outdoor Events

There is nothing quite as nice as an outdoor event. Whether it be a formal occasion or a casual get together, being able to host an event outdoors adds a special element that only nature can give. As most catering services know, however, outdoor events are always a challenge!


The challenges that come with hosting outdoors usually fall on the decorator and the catering company. Being able to provide excellent quality food without sacrificing flavour and keeping in mind all the possibilities of what might happen at outdoor events (rain, too much wind, etc.) is a challenge to even the most seasoned catering services, but the challenges can be reduced early on simply by knowing what type of food to choose (on the client’s side) or what type of food to offer (on the caterer’s side).


Drinks

The first consideration should always be beverages. People tend to drink more than they eat so easy access to beverages is important! If it is a warm day, being able to provide icy drinks is a must! A cooler day, and having options for warmer drinks is appreciated! Depending on the number of people, having more than one drinks station or bar is usually the most ideal setting for an outdoor event. This not just frees up traffic or having people in line constantly, but it also forces them to mingle.


Finger Foods

If the event isn’t formal, both the client and the catering company should focus on finger foods. Little canapes are usually the way to go, especially if they are bread or potato based because these will fill up the guests faster, which again allows for better people flow at the event. It also allows people to use their hands, which means they don’t need to fumble with cutlery; something that is particularly important in cocktail settings.


Cups

Cocktails and picnics are two outdoor events that can benefit from the use of small bowls and cups that can be filled with refreshing and easy to eat dishes like pasta salads or greek salads. These can be pre-filled and placed decoratively around buffet tables or passed around by waiters, and in both cases with small forks or spoons next to them. Cold salads are also one of the best things to serve on a warm day because they don’t add any heat to the body. Plus they don’t need to be heated or kept, which is a bonus to the catering company in terms of bringing equipment for heating food!


Whenever planning an outdoor event, consider the full setting. Will there be cocktail tables or picnic tables? Is there a buffet table or is it pass around? Is it formal dining, but the event just happens to be outdoors? Knowing the style of the event as well as the profile of the guests can really help both a client and catering services decide on the right kind of food.

Why You Should Hire Catering Services for Your Next Company Outing



Company outings are a great way to reward employees for their hard work and build camaraderie among team members. Whether you are looking for an overnight trip at the beach or enjoying a unique experience like a guided adventure camp, there is no denying that participating in activities together as a team rejuvenates both body and mind.

When most people organize a company outing, much of the attention is given to finding a venue–and for good reason. However, one aspect that should definitely given more attention to is the idea of hiring out-of-town catering services. Having professional catering during your event yields more than a few advantages for organizers and participants alike, including:

Opens Up More Options for Venues

Not all company outing venues offer in-house dining or catering. Limiting yourself to venues with in-house catering may severely restrict your venue options. Opting to hire catering for a company outing allows you to expand your shortlist of possible venues. The best part is that you can actually save a nice amount of money if you only opt for venue rental. If you decide to go with a third-party caterer, just make sure that the venue you book doesn’t charge outside catering corkage fees.

Guarantee That The Food is Excellent

Even if a venue offer in-house food service, there isn’t always a guarantee that you and your team will fully enjoy the food. This is especially true if no one has been to the venue you’ve chosen. In such cases, organizing a food tasting can be difficult in terms of schedule and travel. Hiring a corporate catering service based in Manila that you’ve worked with before assures you that the food you choose fits everyone’s tastes. Similarly, it’s much easier to customize the menu for your outing to fit any special dietary needs (e.g. keto, vegetarian, etc.).

More Time to Focus on Activities

It isn’t uncommon for certain team members to be assigned to cook for the rest of the team during outings. However, this set-up only really works if your team is relatively small. If your company outing involves hundreds of employees or if family members of employees are invited to join the outing, anyone assigned to cook will spend most of their time in the kitchen instead of team-building activities–and where’s the fun in that? Leaving the food up to catering services easily frees up time and allows everyone to participate in the activities you’ve planned.

Corporate Training: Why Rent Event Spaces Instead of Having It In-House



Corporate training is vital to the success of any business. These training sessions can be as simple as introducing a new series of systems to your employees or as complicated as change management programs. In most cases, companies choose to hold these training seminars in-house when possible. However, a better option is often overlooked: renting an event space.

There are a wide range of benefits your company and your participants can enjoy when holding training off-site. Many of these benefits are definitely well worth including venue rental into your training budget. Some of these benefits include:

People are able to focus better

One of the issues of conducting corporate training in your own office is that most of your participants may be distracted by work emails and calls. Similarly, it’s fairly simple for people to disrupt the training and pull out one of the participants. Both scenarios can easily be avoided by booking an event space in Manila for your corporate training. On top of this, 63% of people who have undergone corporate training claim that conducting training out-of-office helps improve their concentration and productivity.

Participants can enjoy more amenities and services

Venues for off-site training seminars often boast luxe amenities and inclusions. These amenities go a long way in setting a positive mood among your employees. Many corporate training venues, such as The Atrium at Enderun Colleges, also come with in-house catering services. Serving a light snack in between sessions and offering free-flowing coffee may help your participants focus. Lastly, these amenities can leave a lasting positive impression among newer employees, which may lead to better company loyalty.

Talking about sensitive topics in the office is easier

In some cases, training seminars will talk about sensitive information or topics pertaining to the company. This may include things like policy changes or reshuffling departments. Being too close to the office may make it difficult for people to have a proper and impartial discussion. Choosing a third-party venue allows everyone to speak easier since there is no worry over whether someone may overhear the topic of discussion.

Employees are encouraged to socialize with each other

If you’ll be conducting whole-day training sessions in an events space, your package will tend to come with lunch. This is a great time for employees who don’t often interact with each other to meet and socialize. This is especially true if you’ll randomly group participants together. When employees are removed from their repetitive office routines, this interaction becomes more meaningful. Naturally, having everyone in your company get along with each other can work wonders on productivity and teamwork.

Corporate Catering Menus: Healthier Alternatives to Common Party Food



Whenever there’s a special corporate event coming up in the Philippines, you can always be sure that good food will be served. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always mean that the food options are particularly healthy. With more and more people becoming conscious of what they eat, it is important for event organizers to choose catering services that can provide healthy food options for guests.

Of course, healthy doesn’t necessarily mean “boring”. There are a number of mouthwatering healthy dishes that can serve as alternatives to classic party food. If you were originally planning to serve any of the following, you may want to consider ou healthier suggestion:

Potato Chips

Potato chips are a staple snack provided during pre-event cocktails. However, potato chips are loaded with a significant amount of fat and sodium due to the way these tasty crisps are prepared. Instead of having guests munch down on handfuls of chips, you may want to consider serving Tomato and Mozzarella Bruschetta. This light finger food packs a lot of nutritional value thanks to the tomatoes and olive oil. The tomatoes are the main attraction here as they contain lycopene, an antioxidant renowned for reducing the risk of heart disease.

Barbecue Chicken

Barbecue chicken is a true classic for any event. If you have more than a few health-conscious guests though, you may want to hold off on adding it to the menu. It may seem relatively healthy at first, but barbecue sauce contains a surprisingly large amount of sugar. For a lighter option, try choosing Grilled Herb Chicken. The grilling process brings out the full flavor of both the chicken and the spices without adding extra fat and sodium. Depending on the herbs used, the dish will also pack more than a few health benefits, including improved digestion and enhanced vitamin absorption.

Fish Fingers

Fish fingers is another common buffet item you will find in corporate events. Although fish is one of the healthiest sources of protein, most of its nutritional value is lost when it is fried. Slathering a generous serving of tartar sauce to go with your fish fingers, and you’ve just added an extra helping of sodium and sugar to your meal. A healthier alternative to this would be to enjoy a serving of Baked Fillet of Lapu-Lapu. Baking is one of the healthiest ways to prepare fish since it keeps the fish tender and moist while retaining most of its nutritional value. Lapu-Lapu is also rich in vitamin D and iron.

These are only some of the healthier alternatives that many corporate catering companies may offer. If you are keen on providing healthier options during your event, do not hesitate to consult your catering company and ask for recommendations.

Christmas Party Venues: 5 Tips for Planning an Awesome Corporate Party



Christmas is definitely the biggest holiday celebration in the Philippines. Everyone from family and friends to homeowners associations and private companies plan fun-filled Christmas parties to celebrate the end to a wonderful year. In fact, many companies start planning their annual Christmas parties early in the year to give them the time necessary to organize an unforgettable event.

If you know you’ll be on this year’s organizing committee, you are undoubtedly already trying to come up with several ideas to make this year’s party the best one ever. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:

Determine the Right Date for the Party

Naturally, Christmas parties are best held on December–but which date should you schedule it? Ideally, you’ll want to book your corporate party on a Friday. This saves a lot of travel time to the party for employees since they are already in the Metro and saves everyone the trouble of having to wake up early the next day for work. You’ll also want to consult your HR department and see if there’s a particular week in December when the workload is less so everyone can focus on enjoying themselves at the party instead of worrying about deadlines.

Book a Venue with In-house Catering Early!

Popular venues fill up quickly well before the -ber months roll around. Given this, it’s best to book a popular events space in Manila, like the Atrium at Enderun Colleges, as soon as possible. Make sure you set aside the time to conduct an ocular. It’s also advisable to book a venue that offers in-house catering services around the same time. After all, it’s no secret that the star of any Filipino Christmas party is the food! Booking a venue with in-house catering saves you a lot of time and, more often than not, a sizable portion of your budget.

Choose an Exciting Theme for the Party

It’s easy to eschew a theme for your company’s Christmas party. A party is a party, right? Although people will enjoy a good party regardless of the theme, choosing an interesting theme definitely makes a difference (and makes decorating Christmas party venues easier). If you want to organize a party that people will be talking about for years to come, try going all-out with these fun themes. Having a tough time choosing a theme? Keep everyone involved and put three themes you and the rest of the organizing committee love up for a company-wide vote.

Consider Hiring Professional Entertainment

It’s fairly common for companies to have employees perform during the party. However, hiring professional entertainers can easily elevate the fun factor of your company christmas party. Consider hiring a professional host/comedian to keep everyone engaged throughout the program and/or a popular band for a concert after the program. Another option is to match the entertainment with your theme, e.g. magicians and contortionists for a circus-themed party. You may also choose to still have employees perform on a volunteer basis and alternate them with professional performers.

Give People Enough Time to Let Loose

If your corporate catering package comes with alcoholic beverages, make sure you set aside enough time for everyone to enjoy a few drinks. Allotting only a short amount of time for drinks, especially if you won’t be serving alcohol during the program, may encourage some people to drink as much as they can within that time frame. One good way to ensure everyone has a great time, you may want to offer pre-party cocktails and snacks prior to the start of the party and resume serving alcohol after the program. This way, people are in a relaxed mood and not too hungry, allowing them to focus on speakers and performers.

3 FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A VENUE FOR YOUR PRIVATE EVENT



Choosing which venue to rent out for your private event can be a tricky task for some people. This is especially true for those who choose to go the DIY event planning route. However, there is no room for error when choosing an events venue. After all, the venue is one of the big-ticket items that sets the entire tone of your event. Prior to committing to a particular venue in Taguig or the rest of Metro Manila, make sure you know exactly what your event needs. Here is a quick guide to help you assess whether a venue is a good fit:

Guest Capacity and Minimum Head Count

Guest capacity is one of the first things you should consider when choosing an events space. Venue management should be able to provide you with an accurate capacity for their venue(s), as well as the minimum head count. The key here is understanding the ratio of people to floor space. A venue that can hold 400 people may feel too empty if you only have 300 guests due to the empty space left over. In general, you want to match your guest list to the listed capacity.

Venue Ambiance and Adaptability

The ambiance of a venue plays a large role in setting the tone of your event. For example, corporate events filled with top level executives would be better suited in a more formal event space rather than a bar. This is where the adaptability of a venue shines. A great banquet hall is able to adapt to any type of event, from vibrant children’s birthday parties to elegant debuts.

Amenities and Inclusions

You’ll need to take a look at the amenities present in an event, as well as any special inclusions you’ll receive if you book the venue. For starters, try to ensure that your chosen venue has ample parking space for your guests. If you have a large guest list, having several comfort rooms within the venue is ideal. Don’t forget to ask about any inclusions that come with the venue. For example, many wedding venues are happy to provide sound systems and a wedding cake as part of their package, allowing you to save a few thousand pesos. On the other hand, an event venue with catering may offer discounts on their catering services. These are only some of the factors to consider before renting an events venue. If you’re still having trouble finding the right venue, reputable catering services like Enderun Events can provide suggestions that match your needs or even offer rentals within Enderun Colleges.