What is Banquet and Catering Management?

Catering and Banquet Service Definition

Those wondering 'what is catering?' or 'what is banquet service?' should know that catering refers to the food and drinks that are prepared for a typically larger group of people for a specific event. Catering may be required for events like banquets, conferences, conventions, weddings, and more and may be on-site or transported to the event's location.

Degree Programs in Catering Management

Catering management involves the task of overseeing and managing the different processes involved to cater a meal for an event. While there are not usually degree programs solely devoted to catering management, there are many online catering courses and certificate programs available. There are also usually food service-related courses included in hospitality-related degree programs.

Careers in Banquet and Catering Services

There are several different careers in both the food industry and hospitality industry that may directly involve catering services. There are also people in other careers that may need to interact and work with professionals in banquet and catering services, such as event planners. Below we explore a few of the career options that may involve banquet and catering services in more detail.

Food Service Managers

Food service managers oversee the operations of restaurants or other establishments that serve food and drinks, such as catering services. These managers need to handle aspects of food preparation, as well as manage staff and the business-side of their organization. Food service managers may be responsible for duties like:

• Supervising food preparation and presentation
• Handling budgets and other financial records
• Ordering food, equipment, and other supplies as needed
• Scheduling and training staff members
• Ensuring customer satisfaction and compliance with food laws/regulations

Food service managers typically need at least a high school diploma and some related work experience in the food industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a median salary for food service managers of $54,240 in 2018.

Lodging Managers

Lodging managers may be the best example of hospitality and food services mixing, as these managers oversee the operations of establishments with overnight accommodations, which may also offer catering services for events. Working with catering services may be especially common for specific types of lodging managers, like convention service managers who oversee conventions and special events held at the establishment. Other job duties for convention service managers may include:

• Meeting with clients to determine event needs/goals
• Reserving rooms for clients
• Setting up the meeting space
• Booking catering, audiovisual, and other necessary services
• Troubleshooting problems the day of the event

Lodging managers can have a high school diploma, certificate, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree in fields like hospitality or hotel management. Hospitality management degree programs are fairly common and are available from San Diego, California to New York, New York. The BLS reported that lodging managers made a median annual salary of $53,390 in 2018.

Chefs

Some chefs may run their own catering business or be responsible for preparing the food for a catering business. Chefs oversee their kitchen staff and ensure that food preparation follows all safety standards. Other responsibilities for chefs may include:

• Creating recipes and menus
• Ensuring the use of quality food products
• Maintaining inventory
• Checking work areas for cleanliness
• Training cooks and kitchen staff

Chefs may work their way up to their position or can complete a postsecondary culinary program or apprenticeship. The BLS reported that the median annual salary for chefs and head cooks was $48,460 in 2018.