Hotels Specialize in Catering Services For Diplomatic Conferences, Receptions by Alan B. Nichols From presidential inaugurations to intimate dinner receptions, catering has always been a central component of the hospitality industry, helping to set the great hotels apart from their competitors. And although embassy event planners can hire any of dozens of fine catering companies, another option is to turn to the seasoned catering teams at area hotels, which help take the guesswork out of organizing the perfect reception. When planning the next diplomatic or social occasion, embassy officials might well consider the following hotels, all of which have extensive experience and skill in producing diplomatic receptions and conferences of the highest quality. Marriott Wardman Park Hotel Designed by British architect Harry Wardman and opened in 1918, the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel sits atop a hill offering scenic vistas of Rock Creek Park and downtown. The residential Wardman Towers opened a decade after the hotel and has served as the home to three presidents, four vice presidents, two U.S. Supreme Court justices and hundreds of dignitaries, including social ite Perle Mesta, known far and wide for her lavish parties and often called the ìHostess with the Mostess.î Every U.S. president since Woodrow Wilson as well as diplomats from around the world have graced the plush carpeted halls of this convention hotel, which hosts everything from small private parties to large-scale conferences. Presidential speeches have been made in the hotelís high-ceilinged conference/banquet hall, which spans half the size of a football field, and some of the most important international and domestic issues have been discussed among the hotelís legion of smaller conference/meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual and teleconferencing equipment. When embassies approach the Wardman Park with an idea for an event, senior sales and catering management help to design just the right reception plan. Then, the veteran catering staff, which includes renowned chefs from Europe, Asia and Middle East, transforms the design into an event to remember. ìWe are positioned both literally and figuratively in the heart of the diplomatic community,î said Sam Bonfe, director of sales and catering at Wardman Park. ìWe continually train our staff to make sure that we are worthy of that relationship by offering world-class service, impeccable security coordination and flawless manners to ensure satisfaction for all of our international neighbors. ìWhen it comes to catering an event,î Bonfe continued, ìwe are a canvas with lots of paints. We take the paints on the paletteófood, beverage, dÈcor, audio-visuals, the arrangement of the tables, the place settings and every other detailóand we design you a party or occasion you wonít forget. Every little detail is meticulously thought out and executed.î The hotelís catering calendar is full of high-profile diplomatic events. Last fall, for example, the Saudi government held a business meeting at the hotel. Some 700 people were in attendance, including government officials and Saudi and American business leaders. The Wardman Park also hosted the Air Force Associationís celebration marking the 100th anniversary of flight. Air Force officers from some 56 countries attended, and because the event was held during Hurricane Isabel, the hotel had to draw up an elaborate evacuation contingency plan that could be executed swiftly. Fortunately, it never became necessary to put the emergency plan into action. This grand hotel has also catered untold numbers of galas, national day celebrations, and association and union meetings, in addition to small family and private receptions. Some of its most recent catered events include a private party for the president of Morocco and several World Bank annual meetings. ìWe are your consultants on site, and the beauty of having us host your event is everything is centralized,î Bonfe explained. ìYou donít have to worry about separate contracts for furniture, food and beverage, and all the other amenities for the occasion. The fact that guests for multiday events can stay right here in our beautiful rooms is an added bonus.î St. Gregory Luxury Hotel & Suites Opened in June 2000 and situated at 21st and M streets in the heart of Washingtonís commercial district, the St. Gregory Luxury Hotel & Suites is an elegant, midsize hotel ideal for small meetings of up to 150 people or intimate occasions such as private dinners. In addition to the 154 opulently appointed suites and rooms, the St. Gregory has 3,000 square feet of high-tech meeting facilities. With a ballroom that can be divided into three sections and two executive boardrooms, the hotel offers teleconferencing/video conference capabilities supported by an on-site audio-visual technician and a dedicated conference staff. Among its catered events, the hotel hosted an Organization of American States meeting with delegates from all over Latin America. For an international conference of this scope, it was essential for the hotel to have simultaneous translation services, microphones and recording devices, explained hotel Vice President of Sales and Marketing Hector Torres. Torres said the hotel staff helps an embassy define its needs, which continually change as the event planning progresses. ìWe have to be flexible and be able to turn on a dime to meet their needs,î he said. ìOne time, we were given a disk containing information in a format our equipment couldnít handle. We found this out at seven in the morning, and by nine that same morning, we had solved the problem.î When asked about the importance of providing expert advice for an event, Torres recounted a meeting that the hotel hosted for NATO delegates sponsored by a U.S. telecom company. ìI advised planners not to offer European cuisine. The delegates were used to European meals. I suggested instead that we offer what we do best and came up with a menu of bone-end steaks, baked potato and apple pie with ice cream. The delegates loved it,î he said. ìWe offer a more intimate atmosphere than some of the larger hotels. Our success depends on our ability to anticipate needs and problems,î Torres added. ìCatering diplomatic events is the sexy part of our business. We are welcoming people from all over the world. Itís exciting. We know that some countries donít have large budgets and we can accommodate them, though there may be some financial restrictions.î State Plaza Hotel Located on E St., NW, near the State Department, the State Plaza opened in 1975 and features 225 rooms as well as its fine-dining restaurant, the Garden CafÈ. The restaurant was the venue for a reception honoring former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright last fall with 60 in attendance. The event, which was planned by the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, included a four-course dinner with special international wines. The hotel also worked with the State Department and the Japanese Embassy to host a meeting for various business and government officials. According to Ursula McNamara, the hotelís sales manager and embassy liaison, ì[Executive chef Tony Hang] was amazing. He prepared a fabulous mealóan American-style meal with an Asian influence. The Latin American attendees loved it. It was a Chilean sea bass with a tropical fruit salsa with lemon purple potatoes from Peru. It was quite colorful and was presented beautifully.î McNamara said that one of the main advantages of having the hotel host diplomatic functions is the ease and convenience of handing over most of the logistical planning. ìWe are a one-stop shop. We do all the work and there is no cleanup,î she explained. ìWe are very flexible,î McNamara added. ìFrom our general manager to our catering manager to the entire staff, we can work up to 72 hours in advance provided the date is availableÖ. Because our space is small, we tailor to small groups and give them the VIP treatment. We donít do simultaneous meetings. If you book an event with us, for that date you are our only client.î Willard InterContinental Washington When it comes to hosting a countryís national day reception, many embassies over the years have turned to the Willard. Washingtonís ìCrown Jewel of Pennsylvania Avenueî has hosted legions of national day parties over the years, including those of Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. The Willardís close proximity to the White House makes it especially attractive to diplomats conducting high-level meetings with U.S. government officials. ìThe embassies inspire us to perform to our best capability,î said Harrison Rohr, hotel director of catering. ìThe expectation and attention to detail is very high. For example, we hosted a pa rty for the king and queen of Thailand. We learned that the queen never steps on a bare floor. We arranged the event in such a way as to enable the queen to move about the hotel without violating this custom.î Detail and service go hand in hand, explained Rohr. ìDepending on the particular country and its protocols, our staff may need to know that they must never look a visitor in the eye, or they must bow in a certain way, for example.î The Willard has a program called Willard on the Town that takes the hotelís catering service directly to the customer. If an embassyís kitchen facilities are large enough, the Willardís chef will prepare the meal there. Otherwise, it will prepare the meal off site and transport it to the embassy. Beyond that, said Rohr, ìWe will handle everything from the furniture and the china to the flower arrangements and everything in between. ìIf a delegation is staying at the hotel,î Rohr added, ìit makes sense to have us also cater the party at the embassy because it streamlines the whole experience.î As for its catered events, the Willard, which is owned by the InterContinental Hotel Group, can handle dinners of up to 450 people and receptions of up to 600. Because of its rich storied history and worldwide name recognition, the Willard is a favorite among many diplomats. According to Rohr, there is no contingency that the hotel cannot deal with. ìSometimes we get requests for a particular kind of meal or style of cuisine, and if necessary, we will fly in one of the chefs from our overseas hotels to prepare the meal.î Alan B. Nichols is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.