Cash in the bag?

With United Airlines announcing that they will now begin charging economy class fliers $25 for a second bag and a $125 for three bags, the question arises, will other airlines be following suit? This charge is said to offset rising fuel charges, but didn't airlines raise their ticket prices already to cover this increase? As a meeting planner, planning destination events, how will this affect you? We'd like to hear from you. Weigh in below!

Learn more about this increase here.

iMenu

When you go to a restaurant and order an item off the menu, do you sometimes find yourself looking at your neighbors food and then ordering what they had just based on what you saw? It is true, our eyes certainly do a lot of the thinking for us and often we want what we see.

Well say hello to iMenus and Digital Dining Table Service!

About iMenus: Based out of New York, MenuLogic has developed the iMENU® platform solution to improve hospitality operations and create brand awareness. The iMenu is a a digital tabletop interactive menu solution for the hospitality industry which increases impulse sales and decreases labor costs at restaurants and hotels, enables customers to order and pay for food, beverages and other guest services, and serves as a powerful point-of-purchase medium for brand marketers and retailers alike. The iMenu is designed to provide convenient self-service access to food and drink ordering, display pictures of menu items to help customers decide what to order, provide pay at the table functions, and enhance guest experience by providing entertaining content such as weather, sports scores and flight information provided at the table. iMenus are installed directly at the dining table.

Do you like this idea? Or do think it will take away from the customer service of the wait-staff?

Feed Others, Feed Your Soul

Register now for "The Falls Come to Life" at Salish Lodge & Spa

This second annual celebrity chef dinner and auction to help raise funds for Food Lifeline - one of the largest hunger relief organizations in western Washington – will be proudly hosted again at the Salish Lodge & Spa. Mingle with local celebrities as you participate in this exclusive auction for an incredible cause. Give to others while delighting in your own dining experience – a multi-course, wine-paired menu prepared by Seattle's most celebrated chefs.
Featured image: Crush

Enjoy cuisine from the following local Chefs...
Chef Armandino Batali, Salumi
Chef Holly Smith, Cafe Juanita
Chef Jason Wilson, Crush
Chef Roy Breiman, Salish Lodge & Spa
Chef Johnathan Sundstrom, Lark
Chef Matt Costello, The Inn at Langley

Featured image: Cafe Juanita

Details
Friday, March 28, 2008
Reception at 6 p.m.
Dinner at 7:30 p.m.
The Dining Room at Salish Lodge & Spa
$195 per person
*125 people maximum*

Live Auction
Festivities will include a limited-item live auction with all proceeds going to Food Lifeline.

Reservations
Advance reservations are required and may be made by phone (425) 831-6554

Fresh Ideas

We fell in love with these beautiful etched wine bottles at the 2007 Northwest Event Show. With their intricate detailing and vibrant array of color, these etched wine bottles can be customized to suit your needs. Personalized wine bottles make excellent corporate gifts, bid items for auctions, or display pieces for your storefront or business space.

Featured above: Bottles from Fresh Northwest Design out of Gig Harbor, Washington

Reading Material

We at banquetevent.com make continual effort to stay educated when it comes to the world of event planners. We recommend the following "good reads" to further your education and knowledge in the world of event planning.

1. The Complete Guide To Successful Event Planning (2007) by Shannon Kilkenny
The main reason we like this book is that it provides excellent ideas on how to plan "green" meetings & events. Any book that recognizes the impact the event industry can have on preserving the environment is a book we can stand behind.
List price: $39.95

2. Streetwise Meeting & Event Planning (2007) by Joe LoCicero
Streetwise is an excellent general informational tool for planning large events. While the information isn't quite as detailed as we'd like to see, the overall tools and guides provided in this easy read are indeed helpful for planning events. LoCicero's expertise falls under marketing in the event planning and corporate world, so you can expect excellent tips on promoting your event.
List price: $19.95

Calling all caterers!

Mark your calendars for the catersource Conference. "Whether you’re just starting a catering profit center or have been catering for years you’ll find new ideas, techniques and strategies in culinary, sales and
marketing, business, design, operations, and lifestyle management that will help you build your business and impress your clients."
Join guest speakers, Colin Cowie (author), Robyn Waters (trends expert), The Hearty Boys (Food Network) and Michael Roman (catersource president) for the 16th Annual Catering Conference February 24-28 at the Las Vegas Hilton & Convention Center.

Learn more here.

Secure Fine Dining

Do you ever feel insecure when you hand over your credit card after eating at a restaurant? Think about it, how often do you give someone else your credit card, only to have them walk away with it and swipe the card in a location where you cannot see them? Only at restaurants is this practice acceptable. But how do you know your credit card information is secure? You must be very trusting to just hand your card over to a stanger for their safe keeping. Well in 2008, you may see this practice of handing over your credit card disappear in many restaurants across the U.S. Many restaurants are beginning to use wireless credit card readers. Your server will bring the wireless divise directly to you at your table so you can swipe your own card and enter your payment amount. The devise will even give you the option to add on an automatic 15-25% tip without you ever having to do any quick math in your head. Restaurants aren't the only businesses in the hospitality industry that will begin to use these high-tech machines. You'll also notice them popping up on the golf course as the golf club employees visit you with their carts full of snacks. But be carefull, research also shows that paying with a credit card also entices people to spend more money than they would normally since no cash is exchanged.

Do you think this new method of paying will work? Tell us your thoughts.

This wireless credit card reader shown comes from Verifone Tablepay.