The first reason that may come to mind when considering to host an event at a hotel is convenience. However, there are plenty of other perks that come along with hosting a celebration at a hotel. Put your trust in these hospitality professionals, relax and truly enjoy your special occasion in the beautiful city of New Orleans.
Fewer Contracts and Contacts
Unless you are a professional event planner or have previously hosted many large events, it can be quite difficult and time consuming to coordinate with anywhere from 5-15 different vendors.
Examples of offerings some hotels have in-house that a stand along venue may not include:
Rentals: while a hotel may not have all items or any specialty items you desire for your wedding or party, they are more likely to have pieces in stock that you can use, which will ultimately save some money in your budget.
AV: while a hotel will likely not have their own stage or professional sound system, there are some types of AV equipment that a hotel may have on hand, such as a monitor and cable hookups.
Food options: this is a huge perk to hosting your event at a hotel! We may be biased, but we think the culinary options for events at The Pontchartrain Hotel are some of the best in New Orleans! With food selections coming straight from the kitchen of Jack Rose restaurant, your party can’t go wrong with any of our offered menu items!
2. Catering
Let’s dive deeper into the yummy perks of hosting your special event at a hotel. The days of only having the option of boring hotel ballroom food stations have passed. Many hotels now provide high quality, creative and enticing food options for events.
If you host your event at The Parlor at The Pontchartrain, your guests are in for a treat. The team behind Jack Rose is the same team preparing meals for guests at The Parlor!
In addition, it’s very likely that you will not have to worry about placing an order or any kitchen equipment. Stand alone venues without kitchens require an extensive on-site set up for the kitchen staff. When the hotel is providing the bites, they may already have everything they need to prep and serve the dishes.
3. Guestrooms On-Site
How convenient is it at the end of the night to be able to go up the elevator and make it into a luxe hotel bed? Your out of town attendees are going to want to stay nearby the event, so why not offer them the option to not even have to leave the location! Guests attending events at The Pontchartrain Hotel have the option to stay in the heart of New Orleans’ beautiful Garden District. Talk to your event planner because there may be an opportunity to get a great room rate for your group when booking your event. This can be especially helpful for out of town wedding guests.
Another perk for the host is not having to coordinate additional transportation to or from the event.
4. Additional Services and Amenities
There are additional services and amenities that your guests have access to at a hotel, which they will appreciate.
Spa: does the hotel have a spa with a makeup artist and hair stylist on the team? Depending on the nature of the event, some attendees may appreciate being pampered before the celebration.
Additional food outlets: having the option to grab a quick coffee or a light lunch at the hotel restaurant or coffee shop on site can be helpful during busy days.
Valet parking: this is a perk for both guests staying on and off property. Parking can be a hassle, especially in a city like New Orleans where limited street parking is available.
5. Friendly, Professional and Experienced Staff
When hosting your event at a hotel, you will not need to be concerned that the staff have not worked together or are inexperienced in the space. Rather than having a staffing company work your event, you will have fully trained hotel and / or restaurant employees who work together on a regular basis.
Also, assistance with setup and breakdown is something many hosts do not factor in when deciding where to host their event. Hotel staff typically complete most of the set up and breakdown, aside from any type of outsourced decor, entertainment or experiences that are added to the roster. Having these helping hands on your team will be extremely helpful!
6. Options for Additional Spaces
Multiple rooms or spaces in an event venue can be helpful for many different reasons. Having a separate space for a cocktail hour or a seated meal before the main event allows your guests to seamlessly transition from one part of the agenda to the next. Having another space can also allow time for a room flip. For example, couples having a wedding ceremony in The Parlor can host a private seated dinner in Jack Rose while The Parlor is rearranged for the reception.
Many event planners like to set up “activations” or “touchpoints” for a specific experience they would like to incorporate into the party. Having additional meeting rooms or spaces can be extremely helpful when designing these memorable arrangements.
7. Value
Many of the services listed above come as part of the event package at a hotel. Stand alone venues that do not keep AV equipment, tables, linens, chairs, glassware, utensils, etc. will give you a list of preferred vendors to reserve and order these items from at an additional cost. Even if they come at an additional fee at a hotel, you will most likely have to work with less contacts and conduct minimal research into the most appropriate option, and your time is your most valued asset!
On top of the monetary value and other items listed above, there is a certain peace of mind that comes along with hosting an event at a hotel. If something isn’t working the day of the event or there is something you need that has not been considered, chances are a hotel venue is more likely to be able to assist in real time. A hotel has access to countless additional services and resources that venues simply do not. We hope you’ll consider working with the team at The Parlor at The Pontchartrain or one of the many other great hotels in New Orleans for your next event!