Auckland Business Revives Corporate Entertaining

Media Release
Date: 6th October 2009
Auckland Business Returns To Corporate Entertaining As Confidence Grows

Corporate catering, regarded as a bellwether of business confidence, is returning to pre-recessionary levels, according to Auckland event specialists Urban Gourmet. The upswing comes as the latest Auckland Chamber of Commerce Business confidence survey reveals a surge in confidence for the September quarter along with strong employment intentions from employers.

Urban Gourmet Director Anne Doughty, says that the company saw the beginnings of a resurgence in activity during July and August but now corporate business has truly picked up.

She explains: `We’re seeing a return to corporate entertaining in Auckland but the way in which companies are doing it is changing. Cocktail and fork food are more popular now but I think this is about a change in the way companies entertain rather than a budgetary thing. There is a greater focus on productive networking which you can’t get if you are sitting at a table for six all night.
‘That trend aside, there has been an upsurge in bookings for seated dinners, which is a real sign that confidence is coming back to business. The difference is that organisers are trying to avoid any overt signs of extravagance, while recognising that they need to entertain at a level which will enable them to build relationships and help grow their businesses.’

According to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Business confidence survey almost 60% of those firms surveyed believe business conditions will improve over the next six months, double that of the June quarter survey. Consequently, those who expect conditions to deteriorate dropped from 27% to 6%.

64% of business owners believe business conditions in the next six months will improve versus 46% in the June survey. Those who believed conditions could deteriorate in the last quarter moved from 14% to just 7%.

Urban Gourmet has adapted a number of its menus to suit customers that might not have a huge amount of money to spend but still desire good quality food and a superior level of service. A recent addition is the rustic Bistro Menu which includes a selection of high quality, innovative dishes but is $10 a head less expensive than Urban Gourmet’s other menus.

For more information on Urban Gourmet, visit www.urbangourmet.co.nz

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