Caterers benefit from ‘stealth spending' on corporate hospitality

06 October 2009
Caterers benefit from ‘stealth spending' on corporate hospitality

Corporate hospitality is booming despite the recession, claims a corporate cookery venue.

Venturi's Table has released results showing an uptake in its services since the economic downturn, a surge it attributes to "a new ‘undercover' approach to corporate hospitality."

A spokesperson from the Wandsworth Town-based business said: "It seems that corporate organisations are still splashing out on indulgent events for their clients but they are being much more discreet about their spending so as not to appear out of touch in a post-recession climate."

The company's results showed that before December 2008, client hospitality only accounted for around 17% of the cookery centre's overall business but now commands almost 47%, alongside its teambuilding mainstay.

The cookery centre has also experienced a 54% increase in enquiries from corporate hospitality agencies as their request ideas for more low-key events.

In August, the New York Timescoined the term "stealth spending" in an article citing the same trend towards covert corporate spending.

Tina Benson, managing director of event management companyTeam Tactics, said: "There has been a considerable drop in demand for big "show-off" events and branded boxes or hospitality enclosures at sporting events have never been so unpopular with companies.

"We have found that clients, however, still have money to spend, but they are interested in smaller, more bespoke ways to entertain clients. Hospitality expenditure is also being spread over a number of activities for clients rather than being focussed on one big, expensive event."

Events caterers hit by Christmas party cancellations >>

Events catering - All partied out >>
By Rosie Birkett

E-mail your comments to Caterer News here.

If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk

Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next contract catering job here with Caterersearch.com jobs

Blogs on Caterersearch.com](http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs) Catch up with more news and gossip on all Caterer's blogs
[Newsletters For the latest hospitality news, sign up for our e-mail newsletters.
The Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email

Start the working day with The Caterer’s free breakfast briefing email

Sign Up and manage your preferences below

Check mark icon
Thank you

You have successfully signed up for the Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email and will hear from us soon!

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.

close

Ad Blocker detected

We have noticed you are using an adblocker and – although we support freedom of choice – we would like to ask you to enable ads on our site. They are an important revenue source which supports free access of our website's content, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

trade tracker pixel tracking