Challenges
The number of people attending the event – 2,000 – made this the largest group that caterers
at the Westin Bund Center Shanghai had ever handled. The Westin had to call on staff
members of the seven other Starwood hotels in Shanghai to help out at the event.
“We had over 450 hotel associates to prepare for the event in two days, including set-up, furniture transportation, venue preparation and culinary and service,” says Joyce Weng,
director of marketing communications at the Westin Bund Center.
The dinner was held in an exhibition hall, which presented logistical issues with the kitchen
set-up and service.
“Sometimes the venues have no kitchen, no water supply, drainage or electricity, so we have
to improvise,” says Tolga Lacin, director of food and beverage at the Westin. “Service must be up to par, so we often use people from the hotel who have a ‘hospitality mentality’.”
Execution
The Westin decided to execute the event as four separate events of 500 people. “This made it
easier for my associates to concentrate and mentally prepare themselves for the operation and preparation,” says Weng.
The five-hour event also featured music and dance performances as well as a magic show.
Verdict
Verbal feedback from the organisers to the Westin were all favourable. For an event of
this scale, the Westin team had to call on all resources available.
“Staff members from around the hotel including security, housekeeping and even the
flower department participated in the event and formed a whole new team,” says Weng.
KPMG holds mega event in Shanghai
Each year KPMG Huazhan arranges a sit-down dinner to celebrate the company's achievements. Its 2007 event was held at Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center and the Westin Bund Center Shanghai provided the food and catering.
