Hotels are taking on a new concept when it comes to food.
According to Yahoo News, hotels and banquet halls are now more likely to permit brides and grooms to bring in outside food. This is a change from the traditional hotels insisting that their customers only use their food choices. Hotels and banquet halls usually charge customers a fee for using outside food.
A fee often covers equipment and staff, who set up the room and are responsible for cleaning and collecting items once the party is over.
"They don't want to miss out on the revenue," said Sharon Ringier, president of the Chicago chapter of the Event Planners Association. "It's better to accommodate (customers)."
Yahoo News reported that the Sheraton Uptown in Albuquerque, began allowing guests to bring in outside catering companies two years ago. Catering sales manager Cindy Martinez said the change came because of the over-demand for traditional Indian food.
"Indian weddings tend to be very large. They're nice events," Martinez said. "They generate good revenue."
Sheraton Uptown is working with local restaurant to create their own Indian menu instead of having their guest bring in their own caters. Martinez said clients can also choose from other caterers, if approved.
"it's all done in one stop," Martinez said.
The Hilton Columbus and Polaris hotel in Ohio are also working with outside caters to include Indian and kosher food, said senior catering manager Jacob Kristensen. The hotel has reportedly hosted a number of Indian events.
"We wanted to be able to offer them something authentic," Kristensen said "They had many guests coming from India. We didn't feel like we could do it [without help from a restaurant]."
