Feeding Attendees But F&B Is Closed

“Feeding Meeting Attendees While F&B Is Closed”

As we enter the sixteenth month, and still counting, of the global Covid-19 pandemic, more and more people, as a result of getting vaccinated, are returning to work at their office locations after months of working in isolation from home. HR and facilities teams across New England are working around the clock to address new and uncharted challenges as they prepare for a returning and engagement starved workforce (maintaining and enforcing social distancing, the wearing of face masks, and keeping the office free of harmful contaminants, to name a few).

For companies with the pent up need to go off-site or to host an in-person event at a hotel may have them consider other options to choose from, an even more complicated question arises: “how on earth can employees attend an off-site meeting safely and feed them when in house kitchens are closed for the foreseeable future?” 

Food is always an essential element of daylong meetings, intense training sessions or other company events that have now become a challenge in our post Covid-19 world. Previous long buffet lines and shared food tables are no longer tenable, but what is the alternative? Leaving meeting planners and hoteliers to "figure it out" for themselves can have unforeseen consequences, including, questionable quality, exposure to harmful contaminants, lengthy wait times and more when leaving for an off-site lunch or even coffee...not to mention does the hotel even have the kitchen staff back?

Of course, a hotel offering some limited in-house food alternatives and the associated accouterments that come along with it are entirely dependent on your company’s budget, which should be establish first and foremost. But again, beware of quality concerns.

Diving deeper by outlining a budget per meal per attendee can be even more helpful in identifying the food program that is right for your event.  Rita’s Hospitality Group can offer experienced based advise, a full array of menu items to fit your company budget, employee culture and will align with your hotel’s facility and service levels… Rita’s has been doing off site catering for decades…It is our pleasure!

Group Delivery

An internal office lunch option for groups or individuals with limited time can be a great alternative to a traditional on size fits all menu selection. This is a budget-friendly option that is based on your attendees individual desires and budgets. 

 Rita’s has a solution with a delivery service (both on and off site) that provides your attendees with numerous creative and diet specific menus from which to choose. Employees place their orders on the new Rita’s “Virtual Café" app prior to 10 AM for a noon delivery....same day! Meals, both hot and cold, are individually packaged and labeled for ease of distribution on site. A Rita’s delivery team member then drops the food off and you are good to go.

Simple as that….one CDC compliant driver and temp controlled van, a single drop off station and no additional exposure to contaminants from myriad delivery services. This program allows for tighter control over who is entering and leaving your facility at lunchtime too, reducing the risk to you and your attendees.

By offering a custom yet controlled selection, your attendees receive a tangible perk and ensures they are satisfied during their lunch hour and then eat lunch in the time allotted.

 Micro-Markets & Vending Services…Grab & Go!

Vending has come a long way in the last few years too. You’re probably thinking of a vending machine tucked away in an ill-lit and rarely-used corner of the building with potato chips that haven’t been purchased since last year.

These programs are customized with several different levels of service available. Rita’s makes everything at our Boston location and does not have to “partner” with other national and regional food vending firms, so you’ll be getting the best and the freshest quality product, locally sourced than anyone can offer. 

Your groups will enjoy stress free mealtimes on site without relying on time consuming activities to bring lunch from a local pizza shop or busy restaurant near by at their busy lunchtimes… the dividends to having better meetings and events are real.

Bon appetite!