Putting a meeting on the calendar is one thing but planning an ideal menu for a group is another. After you have chosen the perfect venue to accommodate your guests, serve them appetizers, entrees, snacks, and beverages to make them feel right at home.

To start, we share a few meal ideas to get you thinking, and then we interview an expert about the art of menu planning.

Holiday parties have changed a lot over the years, with companies choosing to offer informal gatherings during the holidays, formal invites for employees and partners, laid-back family barbecues, team appreciation outings, or an optional happy hour at the end of a workday. Regardless of your company’s format, timing, and details, it’s important to plan a party everyone will enjoy.

You could say that Steve Jordan stumbled upon his path as a chef, but people who know him best believe this is what he was born to do. A part-time job in a restaurant kitchen to fund his education as an art teacher turned out to be his fork in the road.

There are lots of reasons to host corporate events. You may be marking a milestone for the company, you could be looking to motivate your team or you may need a week-long remote planning session as you prepare to launch a major new initiative.

Planning a corporate retreat can be a stressful process because there are so many moving parts – from picking the place and nailing the budget, to pleasing the bosses, there is a lot to keep track of and a lot at stake. This checklist should help keep you on- track and on-budget and help you plan the perfect gathering.

Corporate retreats are the perfect way for team members to get a break from the daily grind and come together to relax, recharge, and brainstorm.

Rosie Molinary is an Author, Speaker, and Retreat Facilitator based in Davidson, North Carolina. She works with high level executives, non-profit leaders and their teams and says choosing the right setting for your retreat can make or break its success.