Understanding the Conference and Banqueting Sector in the UK

This document provides an overview of the conference and banqueting sector in the UK, including its size, scope, and factors influencing its development. It also discusses key strategic and operational issues in effective management, food production and service systems, and factors to consider when organizing off-site events. The document is suitable for students studying hospitality management or related courses.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
1. Understand the nature of the conference and banqueting sector and the factors influencing its
development.....................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Discuss the size and scope of the conference and banqueting industry in the UK....................2
1.2 Analyse factors that have influenced its development..............................................................3
2. Understand the key strategic and operational issues involved in the effective management of
conference and banqueting events...................................................................................................6
2.1 Critically assess the key strategic and operational issues involved in the effective
management of a given conference or banquet...............................................................................6
2.2 Discuss performance and quality review techniques used by the conference and banqueting
industry............................................................................................................................................7
3. Understand food production and service systems.......................................................................8
3.1 Evaluate the suitability of a range of food production systems and styles and food and
beverage service styles for a given conference or banquet..............................................................8
3.2 Discuss factors to consider when organising an off-site conference or banquet.......................9
3.3 Analyse the key menu planning considerations for conference and banqueting events..........10
Reference List:...............................................................................................................................13

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1. Understand the nature of the conference and banqueting sector and the factors
influencing its development
The market of UK is immensely developed in enhancing their growth in dynamic
business field especially in conference and banqueting sector. In order to celebrate any kind of
ceremonies the inhabitants of UK tends to prefer banquets for organizing the entire event
peacefully (Rogers and Davidson 2015). Most of the hotels existing in UK are constituted with a
conference hall or banquet so that the businesspersons do not have to hire a conference hall
separately for conducting a meeting. After the emergence of conference and banqueting sector
UK hospitality industry is being enhanced day by day.
1.1 Discuss the size and scope of the conference and banqueting industry in the UK
UK conference and banqueting industry has rendered immense growth in both their size
and scope which ultimately leaves immense positive impact on the overall hospitality industry.
In last five years, the hospitality and tourism sector of UK has been increased enormously. The
industry contributes 3.6% of GDP, which is creating a good impression in the economic business
World. The business experts while conducting an international travel tends to arrange their
meeting by hiring those conference halls (Fan 2016). Therefore, on one hand, conference and
banqueting industry is enhancing the scope of Business Worlds, which leaves a positive impact
on the overall economic growth of UK. Most of the hotels existing in UK have emerged a new
conference hall, which immensely influences the business experts in conducting meeting or
session. As a result, the business experts do not have to put any additional efforts for conducting
the session (Mattimoe and Tivnan 2017). The entire event is organized on behalf of service

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providers of hotels. As a result, the business experts can get a professional gesture, which
ultimately enhances economic growth of hospitality industry.
1.2 Analyse factors that have influenced its development
The most important factors that have high influence on the overall development of
conference and banqueting industry in the UK are as follows:
 Political environment:
After the incident of Brexit, UK has become politically instable which leaves immense
negative impact on the overall business of hospitality sector. Ample number of political
resolutions has affected systematic business flow of hospitality sector (Nguyen 2016). In
addition, the taxation policies formed by the Australian government are not very transparent that
can motivate the business employers in forming conference and banqueting industry.
 Economic environment:
Economic environment is one of the most important factors based on which the business
process of an industry is highly dependent. The economic strength of UK is high, due to which
the people do not have to face challenges in affording money behind conference hall or banquets
in order to conduct the mega event (Kim and Loksha 2014). In addition, it has also been
observed that due to the enhancement of hospitality industry the employment opportunities and
scopes are getting raised in the market of UK. As a result, the service providers and the service
users are getting profitable day by day. However, due to economic strengths the business experts
do not have to face challenges in hiring luxurious banquets or conference halls for conducting
their meetings successfully (Owusu-Mintah and Dacosta 2017).

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 Socio-cultural environment:
UK is constituted with the people of diverse cultural backgrounds and attitudes. In such
an environment, business experts of hospitability industry can get the opportunity in arranging
their meetings and customers. As a result, the business experts of conference and banqueting
industry are very much flexible in entertaining the people belonging to various cultural
backgrounds and attitudes (Popov et al. 2017). Most of the people belonging to the market of UK
are from high social backgrounds and attitudes.
 Technological environment:
UK is very much advanced in technology with the help of which business experts of
conference and banqueting industry has modernized their banquets to grab the attention of
regional customers as well as international customers. The business experts have decided to use
advanced technology with the help of which customers can be communicated with the help of
which social media platform or other new media vehicles (Mopecha 2016). Therefore,
technological advancement enables the customers to book the rooms and services by sitting at
their own workplace. However, this very specific study has focused to make detailed overview
on how technology leaves one of the most significant impacts on the overall success of business
in conference and banqueting industry (Gardetti and Torres 2017).
 Environmental:
As per UK environmental climate and condition, the business possibility of conference
and banqueting industry is expected to be high with the help of which the business experts do not
face challenges in providing their products (Jones, Hillier and Comfort 2016). While launching
business UK business experts attend to follow environmental laws and regulations. As a result,

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the customers do not have to face challenges in using their services. In addition, the primary
purpose of launching conference and banqueting industry is to maintaining tourism and
hospitality sustainability in the market of UK.
 Legal environment:
As per legal environmental conference and banqueting industry, business experts tends
to follow proper acts and regulations for running the entire process of business. UK government
is very much strict which enables the organization to follow legal factors such as anti-
discrimination act, gender equality act and data protection act (Lopes 2016). The business
experts have to follow proper employability act as well with the help of which employees need to
be placed in overburden of pressure.
After evaluating the various environmental factors of developing conference and
banqueting industry , it can be summarized that most of the hotels existing in UK are constituted
with a conference hall or banquet so that the businesspersons do not have to hire a conference
hall separately for conducting a meeting (Wang 2014). Therefore, on one hand, conference and
banqueting industry is enhancing the scope of Business Worlds, which leaves a positive impact
on the overall economic growth of UK. Ample number of political resolutions has affected
systematic business flow of hospitality sector. In addition, the taxation policies formed by the
Australian government are not very transparent that can motivate the business employers in
forming conference and banqueting industry (Perez and del Bosque 2014). However, due to
economic strengths the business experts do not have to face challenges in hiring luxurious
banquets or conference halls for conducting their meetings successfully. The business experts
have decided to use advanced technology with the help of which customers can be

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communicated with the help of which social media platform or other new media vehicles. While
launching business UK business experts attend to follow environmental laws and regulations. As
a result, the customers do not have to face challenges in using their services (Joo-Ee 2016). UK
government is very much strict which enables the organization to follow legal factors such as
anti-discrimination act, gender equality act and data protection act.
2. Understand the key strategic and operational issues involved in the effective
management of conference and banqueting events
2.1 Critically assess the key strategic and operational issues involved in the effective
management of a given conference or banquet
The key operation issues that the business experts of conference or banquet sectors have
faced are as follows:
 Quality of foods and services:
Some of the organizations belonging to conference or banquet industry of UK are facing
immense difficulties in maintaining their food quality. In addition, the service providers are
unable to deliver the services within proper stipulated time (Mohammed, Guillet and La 2015).
In this kind of situation, service users tend to show their reluctance in using the services from
conference or banquets.
 Management and professionalism:
The management and professionalism is one of the most identified issues due to which
conference or banquet industry is striving in maintaining their sustainability. The business

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experts have to face challenges in maintaining effective time management skill and decision-
making skills (Sukru Cetinkaya, Ergul and Uysal 2014). As a result, the customers face
challenges in getting proper response from the service providers.
 Communication:
Customer service providers belonging to conference or banquet industry should have
multilingual competency. With the help of an effective multi-lingual competency, the service
providers can interact with the customers effectively belonging to various cultural backgrounds
and attitudes (Ling, Liu and Wu 2017). However, it has been observed that service providers are
not very accustomed with multilingual competency due to which customers having language
barriers have to face difficulties in using the services of UK conference or banquet.
After identifying these issues happened within conference or banquet industry of UK the
business experts need to implement some major strategies and policies. The business experts
need to deliver the services within stipulated time so that the customers do not have to wait for a
long time (Neupane 2015). The business experts need to have proper language competency with
the help of which customers from different cultural and language backgrounds can be dealt with
efficiency. In addition, the business experts need to maintain effective time management skill
and decision-making skills.
2.2 Discuss performance and quality review techniques used by the conference and
banqueting industry
The success of conference and banqueting industry of UK is highly dependent on the
performances of employees as well as the quality review techniques that the business experts
follow towards measuring their organizational performances. While evaluating the performance

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of the employees the business experts of UK conference and banqueting industry have primarily
focused on professional skill and communication skill of the employees (Alberti 2014). In order
to run a service industry the communication skills of the service providers have to be strong. As
a result, the business experts would not have to face immense challenges in dealing with the
customers from various religious and cultural backgrounds. The business experts have to be very
strong in their management skill as well as professionalism to grab the attention of international
customers.
Quality review techniques that UK conference and banqueting industry uses imply
PERT. PERT primarily measures the performance of employees based on cost relationship and
time. By monitoring the overall performance of the employees using PERT technique, the
business experts tend to focus on evaluating the performance level of the organization as well.
3. Understand food production and service systems
3.1 Evaluate the suitability of a range of food production systems and styles and food and
beverage service styles for a given conference or banquet
The most effective food production system that UK conference or banquet industry uses
are as follows:
 Cook-chill production method
 Cook-freeze production method
 Conventional method
 Dry-heat cooking method
 Moist-gest cooking method

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In case of UK conference or banquet industry, the business experts have decided to use
moist-heat cooking method in order to draw the attention of all age group of people. Moist-heat
cooking method enables the cook in directly simmering and braising the food with the help of
which the people in general do not have to have the food with difficulties (Cheng and Wong
2015). This kind of food production method is very much health friendly, which attracts the
customers in using, services towards conference or banquet industry.
Amongst most effective food and beverage service styles the service providers of UK
prefer English service style. This particular service method enables the professionals in
transferring food from a service dish to the guest's plate from the left. As a result, the service
users do not have to face any burden of self-serving the foods and beverage. The entire process if
conducted very systematically (Rogers and Davidson 2015). However, the entire method of food
and beverage services attracts the people from global backgrounds and attitudes as well.
3.2 Discuss factors to consider when organising an off-site conference or banquet
In quest of organizing an off-site conference or banquet, the business experts need to
focus on some of the most effective factors, which are as follows:
Venue:
In organizing off-site conference, the business experts have to select the venue where
there is transportation flexibility. The business experts do not have to face challenges in
identifying the place (Fan 2016). In addition, the venue should be chosen in such a way that
people do not have to face any kind of difficulties in availing the place.
Budget:

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As per the guest profile, the budget of conference would have to be made so that the
guests do not have to strive in conducting meeting and any session.
Accommodation:
The accommodation of banquet is arranged as per customers’ profile, their budget and
demands. In case of dealing with premium customers, the business experts have to recruit
professional employees at the workplace (Mattimoe and Tivnan 2017). With the help of
professional service providers, the customers do not have to face challenges in receiving
effective services.
Professionalism of the service providers:
While arranging an off-site conference or banquet the business experts have to be very
much professional with high management skills and competency (Nguyen 2016). With the help
of high management skills and competency, the employees can fulfil the needs and demands of
the guests, which ultimately reflect a positive impression on the customers.
3.3 Analyse the key menu planning considerations for conference and banqueting events
While maintaining an effective menu planning for the guests of conference and
banqueting events, the event organizers tend to follow some of the major stages which are as
follows:
 Collect food on customers’ preferences:
As per customers’ profile and their choice of food, the business experts tend to collect
data on customers’ preferences. The primary role of managers in hospitality sector is to give

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priority on customers’ needs and demands. As per guests’ food choice and habits the business
experts intend to proceed for arranging food services.
 Select seasonal food items and suggest the guests:
The business experts tend to provide an option of seasonal food items so that they can
maintain an effective balance between supply and demands.
 Consider the choice of guests and directs the cook in accordingly:
After identifying data about the customers’ choice and response the business experts have
to focus on direct the cooks in accordingly for preparing superior quality of foods and services.
The business experts while serving the food should give equal priority and response to all the
people belonging to various cultural backgrounds and attitudes.
After evaluating the overall developmental scope of UK conference and banqueting
industry, it can be concluded that emergence of conference and banqueting sector UK hospitality
industry is being enhanced day by day. The business experts while conducting an international
travel tends to arrange their meeting by hiring those conference halls (Mopecha 2016). Ample
number of political resolutions has affected systematic business flow of hospitality sector. In
addition, the taxation policies formed by the Australian government are not very transparent that
can motivate the business employers in forming conference and banqueting industry. As a result,
the service providers and the service users are getting profitable day by day. However, due to
economic strengths the business experts do not have to face challenges in hiring luxurious
banquets or conference halls for conducting their meetings successfully (Gardetti and Torres
2017). The business experts have decided to use advanced technology with the help of which

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customers can be communicated with the help of which social media platform or other new
media vehicles.
While launching business UK business experts attend to follow environmental laws and
regulations. As a result, the customers do not have to face challenges in using their services. In
addition, the primary purpose of launching conference and banqueting industry is to maintaining
tourism and hospitality sustainability in the market of UK. Therefore, on one hand, conference
and banqueting industry is enhancing the scope of Business Worlds, which leaves a positive
impact on the overall economic growth of UK. Ample number of political resolutions has
affected systematic business flow of hospitality sector. While launching business UK business
experts attend to follow environmental laws and regulations (Pirani and Arafat 2016). As a
result, the customers do not have to face challenges in using their services. The business experts
have to face challenges in maintaining effective time management skill and decision-making
skills. After identifying these issues happened within conference or banquet industry of UK the
business experts need to implement some major strategies and policies. The business experts
need to deliver the services within stipulated time so that the customers do not have to wait for a
long time. Based on that strategies the study has evaluated the suitability of a range of food
production systems and styles and food and beverage service styles for a given conference or
banquet.

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Contemporary Hospitality Management, 28(1), pp.36-67.

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Joo-Ee, G., 2016. Minimum wage and the hospitality industry in Malaysia: An analysis of
employee perceptions. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, 15(1), pp.29-44.
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Lopes, M., 2016. The hospitality industry (Doctoral dissertation).
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performance measurement and management in hotels.
Mohammed, I., Guillet, B.D. and Law, R., 2015. The contributions of economics to hospitality
literature: A content analysis of hospitality and tourism journals. International Journal of
Hospitality Management, 44, pp.99-110.
Mopecha, N.B., 2016. Barriers to people with disabilities in the tourism and hospitality industry:
a Case Study of Buea in the South West Region of Cameroon (Master's thesis, Eastern
Mediterranean University (EMU)-Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi (DAÜ)).
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Hotel Industry. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management, 2(2), pp.123-138.
Nguyen, T., 2016. Study on the Marketing Strategy for MICE Industry-Case: Pearl River Hotel
in Vietnam.

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Owusu-Mintah, S.B. and Dacosta, F.D., 2017. A study of events organised by hospitality
industries in Accra, Ghana.
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Pirani, S.I. and Arafat, H.A., 2016. Reduction of food waste generation in the hospitality
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Wang, C.J., 2014. Do ethical and sustainable practices matter? Effects of corporate citizenship
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