First, determine the purpose, name, scope and form of the banquet.
1. Banquet purpose
For example, celebrating the anniversary; Opening and closing of the exhibition; The start and completion of the project; Commercial cooperation; Business performance, etc.
2. Name of the banquet
The name of a banquet is mainly determined by the identity of the host and the guest, which means that the identity of the host and the guest should be equal. In China, large-scale formal events are invited by individuals. Small banquets for daily communication are invited in the name of individuals or couples according to specific circumstances.
3. Banquet scope
It refers to which aspects and levels of people are invited, and how many people are invited to participate.
4. Banquet form
Generally speaking, formal, high-standard and small-scale banquets are suitable, large banquets or cocktail parties are more suitable, and tea parties are mostly used for women's activities.
Second, determine the time of the banquet.
1) Folk customs. Avoid holidays, national festivals, etc.
2) The host is at your convenience. The inviter arranged the banquet in full accordance with the invitee.
3) Pay attention to foreign guests. For Christians, don't choose 1 3, let alone 1 3 and Friday. During Ramadan, Islam fasted during the day and the banquet was held after sunset. When choosing the time, you should also try to avoid the other party's major festivals, holidays, important activities or taboo days.
4) Time control. Generally speaking, the dining time for formal banquets should be 1.5 ~ 2 hours, for informal banquets and family banquets should be about 1 hour, and for simple meals, the dining time is only about half an hour.
Third, choose the banquet venue.
1. Determine the banquet place according to the importance of the guests.
2. Determine the banquet location according to the banquet type.
Choose a familiar place.
Matters needing attention in site selection:
Site selection etiquette should pay attention to the following three points:
1. Elegant environment. Banquet is not only for "eating", but also for exchanging feelings. If the dining place is low-grade and the environment is not good, even if the food is distinctive, the banquet will be greatly discounted. If possible, you must try to choose a quiet and elegant place to eat.
2. Good hygiene habits. When determining the location of business banquets, we must look at whether the sanitary conditions are good. If the dining place is too dirty and messy, not only the hygiene problem is worrying, but also the appetite of diners will be destroyed.
3. Convenient transportation. We should also fully consider a series of specific issues, such as whether it is convenient for diners to come and go, whether there are bus lines passing by, whether there is a parking lot, whether it is necessary to prepare transportation for diners, and whether the facilities in this place are complete.
Fourth, send invitations.
Invitations are usually sent to all kinds of banquets. This is not only a courtesy, but also a reminder and memo to the guests. Invitations are usually sent one to two weeks in advance, so that the invitees can make arrangements in advance.
When entertaining state guests or other important foreign guests, invitations should be issued in the name of the individual leader who presided over the banquet. Generally, invitations should not be issued in the name of the government, the National People's Congress or other names.
Verb (abbreviation of verb) site layout
1. Atmosphere creation
The layout of official venues should be serious, solemn and generous, not decorated with traffic lights and neon lights, but with a small amount of flowers, bonsai and carved flowers.
2. Table and chair placement
Tables and chairs should be placed properly to prevent guests from being squeezed by table legs and other people's knees. There should be a distance of about 60 cm between the desks and chairs. The tablecloth on the dining table should exceed the edge of the table by about 20 cm.
Attention to detail.
Be careful not to let the wind outside the window or door blow to the guests, not to let the lights shine directly on the guests' faces, not to let the flowers on the table block the guests' sight like screens, and not to put them in front of the guests. Flowers and candles can add to the grand atmosphere of the dining table, but not the more the better.
Seating arrangement of intransitive verbs
The general principle is that arrangements should be made in accordance with the principle of protocol order and be flexible. This seating arrangement is conducive to enhancing friendship and facilitating conversation during the dinner.
Seating is a social rule, and its arrangement principle is that male and female hosts sit at both ends of tables and chairs, male and female guests sit at intervals, and husband and wife are separated, with left as the bottom, right as the top, left as the male and right as the female, and flower arrangement.
Seven. Tableware placement
Prepare enough tableware according to the number of banquets and the number of tables and drinks. Everything on the tableware should be clean and hygienic, and tablecloths and napkins should be starched and ironed. Wine glasses, drinking cups, chopsticks, knives, forks and plates should be washed and polished before the banquet begins.
Serve at a banquet
1. Welcome guests
In business situations, people are usually arranged to meet guests at the door. After welcoming them, they shook hands and greeted each other and took the guests to the lounge. There should be an usher in the lounge to take care of the guests or chat with other receptionists. When the main guests arrive, they will greet and greet other guests accompanied by their superiors.
sit down
Seating is a social rule, and its arrangement principle is that male and female hosts sit at both ends of tables and chairs, male and female guests sit at intervals, and husband and wife are separated, with left as the bottom, right as the top, left as the male and right as the female, and flower arrangement.
In the case of multiple tables, sit down from the main table first, and then others will sit down one after another. You can also wait until all the guests outside the main table are seated, and then let the main table staff sit down at last.
make a speech
There will be a formal speech at a formal business banquet, welcoming guests and introducing them. The informal banquet is briefly introduced by the host and guests, and then the meal begins.
Propose a toast
Toast is an indispensable part of business banquets, and the time can be changed at will according to the banquet situation.
Our habit is to speak, toast and answer before the banquet. When making a speech, the audience should stop all activities, listen to the speech, respond to the speaker's toast and clink glasses in the middle of the table. At this time, the banquet officially began. In western countries, it is customary to toast after hot dishes and before sweets, but speeches at cold meals and cocktail parties are more flexible.
Eat something
When eating, the host should try his best to make the banquet go smoothly and have a harmonious atmosphere. You can find a topic to talk about from time to time. Pay attention to the preferences of the host and guests when eating, and master the speed of eating.
Farewell after the banquet
1. Check out after the banquet.
Generous checkout after a meal is also one of the etiquette of business banquets. Usually, it is to avoid opening an account; Elegant checkout; Please give me a man's check.
See the guests off
1). When guests leave, they should open their seats.
2) Give the guests clothes and hats, help them get dressed, and remind them not to forget their belongings.
3) Say goodbye to the guests with a smile.
4). Check whether there are any items forgotten by the guests in time, and return them to the guests in time after discovery.