The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers is co-sponsoring a one-day seminar in London later this month to look at ways of implementing better nutrition and food quality at meetings and events.
“Food for Thought,” to be held at The Royal College of Physicians on June 30, will have Tony Carey, co-founder of the U.K. chapter of Meeting Professionals International, discuss the implications of today’s sophisticated, health-conscious and socially aware diets for British planners, caterers and other suppliers.
Other topics to be addressed include from designing balanced menus to the timing of meals. The seminar will bring in a dietitian and the executive chef of the London Hilton Park Lane Hotel to speak on those matters.
According to ABPCO, growth in international meetings is spurring dietary changes in the U.K. meetings industry. British planners are required to deliver a wider array of culinary choices and healthier menus for a more diverse range of attendees.
There is also closer scrutiny of the origins of food served at events, because of recent disease outbreaks and greater awareness of food allergies, said the association.
The seminar will also look at whether conferences can be designed in ways so that attendees can “graze” over longer periods of time or eat when they desire, as opposed to tightly scheduled meals.
“Enhancing delegate experiences as well as ensuring their well-being is the responsibility of all conference and event organizers,” said Peter Mainprice, managing director of Index Communications Meeting Services and immediate past chair of ABPCO, who will moderate the seminar. “Catering is a pivotal point in any event.”