In the last few years, we have seen the dramatic rise of “green” and eco-friendly trends and practices in the special events industry, and how this is translating to our club’s catering departments. As predicted, it is no longer a “trend”-it really is a “lifestyle,” and as we know, clubs are all about the lifestyle. Clubs should consider adopting these forward-thinking green lifestyle elements into member and special events at the club.
Some of the hottest and most prevalent changes in the catering/private events/special events industry that support green initiatives involve:
- Digital Invitations – Although digital has not replaced the physical, printed invitation for most large events, digital invites are increasing for member events, corporate and networking events and smaller social functions. It has a quick response time, is fun, cost effective and saves trees.
- Organic Menus and Ingredients – Tap into local sources for produce, eggs, baked goods and meats. More and more people, including club members, are interested in “clean” eating, removing gluten from their diets and opting for more organic and natural ingredients in their daily menus. Providing healthier options on both member dining and banquet menus is a wonderful and much appreciated way to show members that we support a healthy lifestyle. Shopping a local farmer’s markets is a great way to provide the freshest ingredients on menus. When your chef goes shopping at local produce farms, make sure he wears his chef’s jacket so the locals can see that your club is supporting the community. It’s nice to list the name of the farms on your menus as well.
- Organic Décor and Design – For linens, we are seeing spandex and Visa fabric fade away as more organic, natural looking fabrics take center stage. Moss, stone and wood incorporated into the design are also very popular and can still be paired with some “bling” such as crystals, mirror and sequins (mirrors are a hot design element for 2014).
- Natural Lighting Rules – Candles create great ambiance and make everyone look younger at the same time. Turn off that electricity and go “au natural.”
- Eco-Friendly Wines – Most wineries have been using sustainable farming techniques for many years-they were well ahead of the game. Be aware of the practices of the wineries represented on your wine list.
- Using Local Event Vendors – Reduce the “carbon footprint” of an event. The carbon footprint means that everything used in the event must originate from a maximum of 100 miles from the event venue.
Specialty Rentals
The fastest growing segment of the catering and special events industry is still the use of specialty, high-end rentals. The rental market supports green practices and is considered “eco-friendly” because vendors are using things over and over again-recycling. Rentals not only include just the basics: china, glass, silverware, linens, tables and chairs, but now have grown to include niche types of décor. In rental furniture alone, clubs can now easily rent custom-made furniture, vintage and modern lounge pieces; soft goods such as pillows and bench pads; bars to fit every theme and style; tables that have LED lighting inside that “glow”; and chairs from modern to classic to “ghost” chairs, just to name a few. Rental lighting allows you to transform a room with uplighting, downlighting, rental chandeliers, GOBOs (a template that “goes between” a lighting source to produce patterns), wall washes and ceiling and floor lighting treatments. Rental flooring allows you to change carpet on a whim for each event host.
Eco-friendly event rentals allow clubs to redesign the look of their spaces on a daily basis, event by event. No longer does a club need to undergo major renovations in order to have the perfect ballroom. Call in your local rental companies-furniture, lighting and flooring-and develop a list of different event designs that will create different styles and moods to appeal to club members and club member hosts. This concept, rather than costing the club money, will actually bring in revenue, as this is a package that can help sell club and member special events.
A club’s environment should reflect the members’ lifestyle. Going forward, this is all about a healthy and green outlook on life.
Lynne LaFond DeLuca is the executive director of the Association of Club Catering Professionals and a private club industry consultant. She can be reached at [email protected], or visit www.theaccp.com.