In partnership with celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, The Knickerbocker’s Legendary Meetings Package includes a variety of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner that are inspired by its New York location. Menu packages pay homage to nearby Midtown Manhattan landmarks and many ingredients are sourced from local producers and farmers, such as Murray’s Cheese, Ceci-Cela pastries and local Atlantic halibut.
“Eating local and healthy is all the craze these days,” said Shawn Hauver, managing director at The Knickerbocker, New York City. “Our offerings match the trend perfectly. Locally sourced products are prepared in the healthiest way possible, and is easily adaptable to our guests’ preferences.”
At Marcus Hotels & Resorts’ Milwaukee, Wisconsin hotel, The Pfister, local inspiration also is represented in meetings and banquets catering. Partnerships with local donut shops in the area have proven especially popular, notably with craft donut shop Holey Moley, which offer non-traditional donut varieties.
“In some cases, bringing in the actual local experts turn out better than a trained banquet staff,” said Mark McDonald, corporate director of event manager at Marcus Hotels & Resorts.
“I don’t see the local trend going away any time soon,” said Corey Nyman of The Nyman Group. “When hotels are truly a great window into a local, they give guests a taste of what is happening locally. People don’t just want to hold their event in a box anymore. They are looking for an added value with an experience.”