Corporate dinner events can be beneficial for forming important partnerships, celebrating a milestone or enhancing team bonds. To ensure they go well, it’s important to impress your company members, partners and clients through the proper business dinner etiquette.
Whether it’s your first time hosting a business dinner or you attend them frequently, professionalism is the key to success. This guide explores eight tips for a successful corporate dinner event.
Here’s a list of our top business dinner etiquette tips:
- Know the Restaurant
- Know Your Guests
- Follow a Business or Business Casual Dress Code
- Show Up Early or On Time
- Acknowledge Each Guest Upon Arrival
- Engage in Conversation
- Using Proper Dining Etiquette
- Show Gratitude and Share Contact Information
1. Know the Restaurant
Before attending the event, make yourself familiar with the restaurant where the dinner will be held. Search for the exact location and whether it is a reasonable distance away as well as information like nearby parking garages or valet parking on site. You can also visit the restaurant’s website and reviews to learn more about the atmosphere of the potential corporate event space. When choosing between restaurants for a corporate dinner, select one that can cater to your guests’ dietary needs and preferences.
2. Know Your Guests
Knowing your guests can help you connect with professionals on a more meaningful level. Research the speakers and people on the guest list to learn about their roles, professional backgrounds and achievements. This information can help you develop professional conversation starters to break the ice between guests. Remember that it’s important to keep conversations about business rather than ask questions about guests’ lives outside of work.
3. Follow a Business or Business Casual Dress Code
The host and guests should follow a similar dress code, which is typically formal or business casual for a corporate event at a restaurant. Sometimes, the dress code can depend on the type of restaurant you’re dining at or the occasion. For example, a corporate event for establishing a partnership may require more formal attire, while a smart casual dress code may be suitable for celebratory weekend or after-hours events. Consider an outfit that is professional yet comfortable enough for enjoying a multi-course meal.
4. Show Up Early or On Time
Arrive at the restaurant at least five minutes before the scheduled time to make necessary arrangements and welcome guests. You may even need to arrive sooner in order to finalize any last-minute tasks such as arranging decor or setting up technology for presentations. When you arrive, you should let your server know so they can ensure your reserved time is ready and guests can be seated right away.
You can also take this time to establish where certain guests will be seated, if seating charts have not already been created. For example, the most important guests may need to be seated close to the host and co-host for easier business discussions throughout the dinner.
5. Acknowledge Each Guest Upon Arrival
Be friendly with guests when they arrive by standing up when each person enters the room and shaking their hand. You can also encourage them to take a seat or direct them to their assigned seat. In addition, take the time to make introductions for everyone and introduce each guest to one another.
When introducing guests, include details like their name, which department they work in and why they were included in the event. If the occasion is a celebratory dinner, you may mention the particular role they played in a recent company win. For an event that’s focused on a business proposal or partnership deal, you may mention how the guest you’re introducing will participate in the relevant business project.
6. Engage in Conversation
To establish better connections, ask open-ended questions. Stick to conversation starters related to work, family or upcoming travel or vacation plans, and avoid topics about money, politics and religion. Make sure to listen and show interest in what everyone has to say. The first part of your meal should be dedicated to building rapport with your guests, and then business discussions can happen later in the evening.
Some great conversation starters for the beginning of the event include:
- Have you worked on any exciting projects lately?
- Do you know any good entertainment spots in the area?
- Do you have any fun activities lined up in the coming weeks?
7. Use Proper Dining Etiquette
In corporate event spaces, there are certain best practices to stick to:
- Silence your phone: Focus your attention on those around you instead of checking and using your phone. Consider putting it on vibrate or silent or turn the phone off.
- Be seated properly: Keep good posture while at the table, such as sitting up straight and keeping your elbows off the table. It also helps to understand and use your place settings correctly, depending on how formal the occasion is. For instance, you may need to start with the utensils on the outside first and work your way in over the different meal courses.
- Eat once everyone’s meal arrives: It’s polite to wait until everyone receives their course before you begin eating. The larger the group, the longer you may have to wait before everyone is served, but doing so is proper dining etiquette.
8. Show Gratitude and Share Contact Information
Before the end of your event, thank everyone for coming. Express that you enjoyed everyone’s company and appreciate each individual’s role in a past or upcoming project relevant to the occasion. For more formal corporate events at a restaurant, exchange business cards and share contact information. You may even wish to walk your guests out, and remember to shake their hand before they depart.
Prepare for Your Corporate Dinner Event at The Gregory
Are you exploring exceptional restaurants for corporate dinner events? The Gregory offers delicious food and a beautiful ambience in the Watermark hotel in Downtown Baton Rouge. Our restaurant provides private dining features to help businesses create unique and memorable dinner event experiences.
Our private dining area can seat up to 32 guests, and we offer three-course or four-course limited menus. We’ll assign an individual server to your event to ensure your unique needs are fulfilled throughout the evening. If preferable, you may bring in your own decor for the event. The private dining area also includes two 55-inch televisions, and other A/V equipment can be requested in advance.
Learn more about private dining at The Gregory and contact our team today to book your corporate dinner event in Baton Rouge.
