How to Operate a Reception Hall

Running a reception hall can require long days and nights alike. As an owner or manager of a reception hall, you must make sure events are organized in a highly efficient manner. You also must make sure that part of your day is spent trying to attract more business. This can involve attending trade shows, purchasing radio or television advertising, or spending part of the day contacting past clients to find out what it would take to get them to host an event at your reception hall in the near future.

Instructions

1. Hire a staff with experience in the catering field. Hiring restaurant employees is an option, but there are several advantages to going with experienced catering employees. The catering staff will be familiar with the flexible schedules based on the desires of the client. Catering staff will also be used to tending to many more tables at one time than a typical waitress or waiter.

2. Market your catering facility effectively. Just assuming that clients will call you up and book events because you exist and have good highway visibility is not enough. As a reception hall operator, you must purchase booths to advertise your business at events that you know your clients will go to. These include bridal shows, business expositions, shows for prom dresses and tuxedos, and graduation vendor shows.

3. Contact potential clients. Find out who the largest businesses in your area are. Contact them and let them know you are available to host events, ranging from large companywide soirees to lunches for individual teams, at your reception hall.

4. Expand your horizons. Consider providing off-site catering options to businesses in your area. Do not lock yourself into just being a reception hall---your food is your business card. Consider delivering lunches to local businesses.

5. Treat clients with the respect they deserve. Meet with your clients that are considering booking an event with you. Do not pass this meeting off to a lower-level manager unless you absolutely cannot attend the meeting. A reception hall does not just sell food service, but personal service as well. This means that influencing a potential client to like you is almost as important as the quality of the food you serve.

6. Follow up with your clients. After an event, check with your client to see how things went. Find out if there was anything they were upset about or anything they wish had been done differently. If your client is upset, do all that you can to satisfy them. Keep in mind that reception halls receive a lot of business from repeat customers, word-of-mouth referrals and people that attended an event at the reception hall.

Tips & Warnings

• Your food is a tool to keep your clients happy, but don't forget about the attitude and performance of both yourself as a manager and the staff that works for you.

• Be creative during the slower periods of the year. Consider operating your reception hall as a restaurant one day a month during this time. You can send invitations to businesses in the area to drop in for a free or low-priced lunch to sample your food and services.