Catering Events

Nestled in the canyon of the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu is the rustic yet decadent oasis of Saddle Peak Lodge, the gold medal winner of romantic wedding venues in Los Angeles.

A breathtaking countryside landscape frames this picturesque lodge, making it the perfect setting for a fairytale Los Angeles wedding reception. From a cascading waterfall and lush patio to the intimate library and den, this LA venue is a Los Angeles wedding planner's dream.

Deemed the only 6-star restaurant in LA, this hidden gem is a best kept secret of Hollywood's elite. However, the cat's out of the bag the moment you pull into the parking lot next to the Rolls Royce and Maybach. But don't be intimidated—the service is impeccable and the staff is as familiar as your local neighborhood haunt.

Everything's game on this eclectic menu, literally, as venison, bison, elk, beef, quail and lamb all find a place on the menu. Exercise your palate by including an out-of-this world wine flight guided by your personal sommelier.

Cvent Planner Insider Tip: LA can be a fickle town and Los Angeles event planning can be tricky. However, having a unique wedding in Los Angeles is do-able with a dreamy Los Angeles special event facility like Saddle Peak Lodge, coupled with the fact that it is considered one of the best caterers in Los Angeles.

View more information about Saddle Peak Lodge on the Cvent Supplier Network

Looking for a unique venue in Baltimore to hold an after-hours reception or wedding? The Maryland Historical Society, centrally located in the Mount Vernon section of Baltimore, is well worth checking out!

Easily accessible from hotels in downtown Baltimore, via the Light Rail System, the Maryland Historical Society has four different venues that can accommodate between 40 and 400 guests for a seated function or between 100 and 500 guests for a reception. Docent-led tours of the museum galleries are available for an additional charge and are highly recommended. Among the current exhibitions, guests can have the opportunity to see an original hand-written copy of the Star Spangled Banner on display, a giant version of Nipper (the RCA Victor dog), and one of the finest collections of silverware in the country.

The Meyerhoff Courtyard or the Monument Street Garden would also make a wonderful place to hold a wedding in Baltimore. The MHS has a list of exclusive caterers and approved vendors with which they work.

The MHS is within easy walking distance of several Baltimore hotels such as the Mount Vernon Hotel, Peabody Court and the Inn at 4 East Madison. The Maryland Historical Society is a great option for holding your next event in Baltimore. If you have an interest in history, this is a great venue!

View more information about Maryland Historical Society on the Cvent Supplier Network

Home to popular art and cultural events, a well respected branch of the University of Texas school system, and several large IT and Telecom firms, Richardson is a quaint, yet urban, North Dallas community. Located about 20 minutes north of downtown and perfectly situated in the center of it all is the Hyatt Regency North Dallas, a massive red brick structure with a distinctly pointed roof.

This large, luxury Dallas hotel has recently undergone a multimillion dollar renovation and now boasts 15,000 square feet of sophisticated Dallas meeting space. So whether you're looking for full-scale Dallas conference facilities or have large meetings requiring several breakouts, the Hyatt Regency North Dallas offers a multitude of options to suit your needs.

The hotel itself is gorgeous. Upon entering, guests are greeted by an elegant foyer lined with four-story windows and adorned with rich drapery. There are 342 remodeled guest rooms complete with high-speed wireless Internet, flat panel televisions with digital video-on-demand and cable services, huge work desks with comfortable chairs, and an iHome alarm clock perfect for iPods. As with any full-service luxury hotel, guests are met with all the amenities one would expect, such as in-room dining, laundry and dry cleaning services, turndown, and a multilingual staff.

Moving on to the meetings side, Dallas event planners won't be disappointed. There is an incredible 7,800-square-foot ballroom that can be broken into seven different sections, as well as a 2,700-square-foot junior ballroom that is divisible into four areas. In addition, there are six extra breakout rooms, 4,000 square feet of prefunction space, and two "lounge" areas to consider as well. The icing on the cake: The Hyatt Regency offers complimentary parking and shuttle service within a five-mile radius of the hotel.

With delicious catering options from their in-house, full-service restaurant, experienced sales and event managers, and on-site audio-visual techs ready to handle any request, there's no excuse not to consider the Hyatt Regency North Dallas as an excellent, and economical, option for hard-to-please clients while in Dallas.

View more information about Hyatt Regency North Dallas on the Cvent Supplier Network

Atlanta is known for its lush landscape, rolling hills and red clay, and the city is trying to preserve this environment one establishment at a time. Many Atlanta caterers, restaurants and even hotels are doing their part to extend Earth's time clock in little ways. You, too, can make a difference the next time you host an event in Atlanta.

The Crown Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia was recently reported to be the first hotel in Georgia to be certified by Green Globe Recognizing Sustainable Practices. What are these sustainable practices? They include the hotel's extensive recycling and waste program, low flow shower heads promoting water conservation, and the donation of hotel linen and furniture to local charities following recent renovations. Feel free to host your next green meeting in this Atlanta hotel's 32,000 square feet of meeting space.

Doubletree Hotel Atlanta Buckhead welcomes guests with its Green & Sustainable Initiatives, designed to address the hotel waste issues. Currently the hotel allows visitors to recycle by placing both trash and recycle bins in every room. If you ever wondered what happened to the other half of that chicken sandwich you couldn't finish, rest assured that the kitchen's garden is layered with a compost mixture of food waste.
 
Events at the Doubletree can take advantage of the the Peachtree Ballroom, seating 300 guests, which is complete with energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting.

For more information about these and other green hotels in Atlanta, visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Chicago is known as the city to accommodate most large meetings and events for associations and corporations. In fact, the meetings industry brings thousands of guests to Chicago for annual events and product launches every year. With McCormick Place listed as the nation's top facility for meetings and conventions, Chicago has built the resources to accommodate these groups with some of the best brands of hotels in the world.

These large hotels are now not only housing guests who attend these meetings, but also hosting them in their own top-notch Chicago meeting facilities. Check out some of the premier hotels in Chicago that have meeting space to welcome thousands of convention guests:

Hyatt Regency Chicago

In addition to being the on-site hotel brand stationed at Chicago's convention center, Hyatt Regency is no stranger to large meetings of its own. With 228,000 square feet of contemporary and flexible function space, Hyatt is equipped much like any other large convention center. The Hyatt is home to four ballrooms, 63 meeting rooms and 70,000 square feet of exhibition space.

This Chicago hotel's impeccable service is monitored by a Meeting Concierge. This friendly aide is by your side from start to finish, ensuring that everything runs flawlessly.

Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers

The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers has over 120,000 square feet of meeting space. This property can host up to 4,600 people for an event or conference. With four above-ground levels of meeting space, 34 breakout meeting rooms, and a 40,000-square-foot ballroom—standing as the largest hotel ballroom in the Midwest—the Sheraton Chicago has all of the amenities to host large groups.

Situated  the heart of downtown Chicago, the Sheraton is near the city's most popular attractions, making it easy for guests to venture out and explore the city. From their 35,000 square feet of exhibition space to their convention registration area, the Sheraton Chicago is sure to cater to your every need!

To find out more about Chicago convention hotels, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Guests at a wedding rarely remember the flower girl's excellent petal throwing skills or the best man's drunken toast about the first time he met the bride. Often times it's the wedding cake that is the headliner, focal point and, for some, wedding the favor of choice. A wedding can do without many things, but not without the cake.

Around the world, the wedding cake comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. In Britain, where they lay claim to the wedding cake, these celebratory desserts are ornate pieces of art. In France, guests enjoy croquembouche, an ice cream cone-shaped tower of profiteroles covered in caramel or toffee.

In the Caribbean, black rum cake is a two-for-one special: the cake's fruit are soaked in rum for weeks on end, giving it a dark brown color that guarantees your guests will go home happy. In Atlanta however, the red velvet cake is king, often with walnuts sprinkled between layers to give it a crunchy, sweet taste.

Rafeedie's Catering is one of the premier caterers in Atlanta. Providing catering services to weddings and other special occasions for almost 25 years, Rafeedie's international culinary team can create menus to a wide array of tastes. As for wedding cakes, Rafeedie's is at the top of the list. With flavors ranging from amaretto to raspberry filled to orange almond, you'll be sure that your wedding is memorable for all the right reasons.

To find more Atlanta caterers, visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Sheraton has been in the midst of a multibillion dollar global revitalization effort, renovating almost half of its North American profile. One of the newest on the scene is the Sheraton Dallas.

Following a $90 million transformation, the downtown Dallas hotel boasts 1,840 redesigned guest rooms and over 230,000 square feet of flexible meeting rooms and banquet spaces—some of the largest in the state of Texas. Whether in the 40,800-square-foot Lone Star Ballroom or 750-square-foot Executive Boardroom, Dallas events at the hotel enjoy expert in-house catering, audio-visual, floral and convention service departments.

Outside the boardroom, the Sheraton Dallas' new dining options, The Kitchen Table restaurant and Draft Media Sports Lounge, provide a place to kick back with a drink or dinner. The new lobby, complete with complimentary work stations and flat-screen televisions, is also a chic spot to rest after a day of work.

Located in the Arts and Financial District, the Sheraton Dallas hotel is extremely convenient for out-of-town meeting guests. The hotel itself is a stop on Dallas' light rail system and connected to the shopping complex Plaza of the Americas. Booking these Dallas accommodations also places attendees just minutes from the Dallas Convention Center, American Airlines Center and historic 6th Floor Museum.

View more information about Sheraton Dallas on the Cvent Supplier Network

Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry hosted this year's Columbian Ball, an elegant black-tie affair that was themed after the its new exhibit, "You! The Experience." This colorful and lively exhibit sparked a unique theme idea that was a great success.

The theme of the evening, "A Celebration of You: Mind, Body and Spirit," inspired a 1960s decor mock up with bright lights and colors. The decor which was provided by Heffernan Morgan and included red, blue, yellow and green strips of fabric draping from the ceiling, tables topped with candles, light boxes and bright flowers, as well as chandeliers and disco balls lining the dinner area. BBJ Linen's provided brightly colored linens of orange, green and blue to add even more pizazz to the venue.

Food for Thought was the Chicago caterer of choice Friday evening. To correlate with the theme, the menu was chosen to reflect good health and well being. During the cocktail reception, a selection of health conscious appetizers, including steamed duck pot stickers served with organic soy sauce and Tiger shrimp, were served to guests. The bar also had an alcohol-free shooter of beet juice infused with herbs, apples and carrots for guests to sample. Meanwhile, the evening's first course was a choice of well prepared dishes including chilled corn bisque, a haricot vert salad, and a mesclun salad topped with red peppers and blue cheese.

The evening's entertainment included a live auction hosted by television journalist Bill Kurtis, who was suited up in a red boxer's robe. The Jessie White Tumblers also made an appearance to wow the guests with risky acrobatic leaps over the stage to encourage guests to interact.

The museum's exhibit was also a great success as a backdrop to the Chicago event. The exhibit highlights the comprised qualities of a person, stressing that we are more than just bodies. You! is a breakdown of personalities and environments that help shape people into being the person they are today. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has a wide range of exhibits and event spaces that serve as a great resource for Chicago event planners.

To learn more about the Museum of Science and Industry or other Chicago event suppliers, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

In today's economy, it's helpful to get an idea of what an event is going to cost you before you start the long and arduous task of making it happen. To help, the event coordinators at Reveal (my staffing and events company in Orlando) have a pricing rubric to put together before we even start an event.

This rubric works anywhere and for any event, from corporate functions to social parties, to get a general idea of budget on the low, middle, and high ends. Keep in mind that Orlando has so much to offer to make any event happen, but setting your event budget is one of the first things to be done during the planning process.

Write out the six basic elements of your event in individual squares. Then list three preferred Orlando event suppliers, or the elements that you want, from least expensive to most expensive.

For example, here are two of the category listings one of our event coordinators put together in the early planning stages for a recent Wake-board DVD release party in downtown Orlando.

Downtown Orlando Venue
1. Latitudes on Church St.
2. Rooftop Waverley Condo
3. Lake Eola Amphitheatre

Food
1. Bubbalous  Bar B Q
2. Wildside Bar B Q 
3. Puff-N-Stuff Catering   

Laying out these options makes the choices much easier when it comes to sticking to your event budget. You can select the most important areas in which you want to really invest, then opt for the less expensive options for the remaining categories. Plus, laying out the pricing allows you to see where what competition is out there, making it easier to negotiate a great deal when you send these suppliers your Request for Proposal!

You want big? Want trendy? Want everything at your fingertips? How about the Angelika Theater at Mockingbird Station in Dallas?

A theater, you ask? A theater. But not just any theater. The Angelika is one of Dallas's most beloved, most stylish film centers and is notorious for showing under the radar, Oscar-worthy films. Celebrities have been known to frequent the venue for premieres and hardened movie critics come for the atmosphere alone. This place is new world hip, with old world charm.

It's also perfect for any Dallas event! Whether you're looking for something different for the company meeting or you're planning a sassy soiree, the Angelika has the Dallas meeting space and expertise to make any event a success. From the wall-to-wall screens in the auditoriums with Dolby Digital Surround Sound, to the sophisticated lobby and cafe space with traditional movie snacks, to the endless catering options, this unique Dallas venue is sure to please even the pickiest client!

Aside from the obvious theater space, this Dallas hotspot sits atop one of the trendiest rail stops in the city where everything is, literally, a hop, skip, and a jump away. The luxurious Palomar Hotel is right across the street. Numerous restaurants and bars are within walking distance, such as Trinity Hall, an upscale Irish restaurant and bar where you can see everything from A-list celebs to World Cup Soccer matches to local Irish bands performances. It also offers easy, easy highway and airport access to Dallas Love Field.

Additionally, some of Dallas's biggest companies are within five miles in any direction of The Angelika. And one of Dallas's, and the country's, most prestigious law, business, and art schools, Southern Methodist University, is less than a quarter of a mile away.

This place has it all! Here is a list of notable features:

• 8 auditoriums with a variety of seating
• Available lobby and/or cafe reception space
• State-of-the-art audio-visual equipment including 35mm, 16mm, or digital projection
• Outside catering (bonus!)
• Personal attention from an Event Director
• Courteous and professional staff

Who said going to the Opera was a bore? Owners of the Atlanta Event Center at Opera invite you to host various events—from wedding receptions, corporate functions and fashion shows—in its lively facility. With its Greek columns, luminescent chandeliers and three-tier balcony, the center makes your attendees will feel like royalty the moment they step inside.

Built in 1920 as a performing arts theater for the Atlanta Women's Club, the center has since undergone two million dollars worth of renovations to revitalize the space to its original luster. Now, the Atlanta special event facility boasts three separate and beautiful areas with their own appeals.

The Opera House encompasses a stage, perfect for performances or speaking engagements. The mezzanine level accommodates up to 450 guests, including a full service bar, private VIP sections and private restrooms.

For more intimate events, the Venetian room is an appropriate choice. Host 150 guests for a reception in this Atlanta banquet hall, which includes Victorian accents and hardwood flooring. On those hoTLANTA days or cooLANTA nights, try the Patio, offering greenery, lounge-style seating with breathtaking views of the skyline.

No need for your guests to worry about lodging or car rentals for events at the center. Several Atlanta area hotels are in walking distance, including W Midtown, Four Seasons and Marriott Suites Midtown. As food food choices, Opera provides in-house catering from Chef Jeffrey McGar, a culinary master whose meals matching the unique design and style of the venue. The chef and the culinary team at Opera recently won the 2009 Allie Award for Best Buffet/Reception Menu in Atlanta.

But if not for the culinary delights of miniature Cubans and mojito lamb chops, come for the scenery and ambiance of this unique Atlanta venue. Feel free to leave your falsetto at home!

View more information about the Atlanta Event Center at Opera on the Cvent Supplier Network

A boutique Miami hotel on a budget? Look no further than downtown Miami's EPIC Hotel. One of the most recent addition to Kimpton Hotels collection, EPIC lives up to its name, offering a level of style and service of unmatched proportions.

Located right on the waterfront, the hotel offers striking views of the Miami skyline from its 411 guest rooms and suites. Vaulted ceilings, glass walls and shimmering pools surround guests as they enjoy some of the hotel's world-class indulgences, such as the hosted evening wine hour in the lobby, a Kimpton Hotels signature offering.

For Miami meetings and events, EPIC has over 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space spread among its meeting rooms, pool deck and EPIC lawn. Events of 300 to 400 guests can enjoy spacious facilities and services that include comprehensive multimedia and audio-visual support, an on-site 24-hour business center, and catering from the hotel's award-winning Area 31 restaurant.

Best of all, EPIC Hotel is offering some great Miami meeting promotions for fall. The Fall Group Sale includes group rates from $139, 10 percent off master account folio charges, and creative meeting concept consultation, all valid from September 3, 2009, through December 25, 2009.

Or, take advantage of its "Power Hour" meetings package. Good for meetings booked and consumed by December 31, 2009, Miami meeting planners can enjoy one hour early check-in, one-hour late check-out, daily hosted wine hour, a Friday happy hour with specialty pricing, a one-hour massage for the meeting planner, and one guest room upgrade for a VIP. Plus, planners can choose from a two-hour cocktail recepection for the price of a one-hour reception, a two-hour boat cruise, or 10 percent off published banquet menu prices.

To learn more about these Miami promotions for your next event, call 1-866-760-3742. And make sure to view more information about EPIC Hotel on the Cvent Supplier Network!

Kanan Cruise is Chicago's most luxurious cruising vessel on Lake Michigan. Docked at the landmark Navy Pier, Kanan offers the finest furnishings and most advanced equipment available. Cruise guests are guaranteed an enjoyable experience while sailing past Chicago's famous skyline and shoreline.

The vessel is available for private evening charters for your Chicago events. These typically begin with a half hour of boarding as professional, uniformed staff greet and welcome your guests, complete with a full size grand piano, leather sections, plasma televisions and a variety of cocktail tables. Guests can start that party by grabbing a drink from the lounge's fully stocked bar.

After all guests are on board, the unique Chicago venue sets sail for a two and a half hour cruise along the shores of Lake Michigan.  Kanan can accommodate a seated dinner of about 200 passengers on deck two. Depending on your catering choices, the dining deck has an available built-in buffet, or can be turned over so that the caterer of your choice has ample room to flawlessly execute a multi-course meal.

The third deck of the venue is the most versatile Chicago event space on the ship. It can comfortably seat an additional 100 guests for dinner or serve as a place to serve drinks, coffee and dessert while guests enjoy event entertainment such as a DJ or band which is stationed behind the dance floor. The third deck also offers yet another lounge area surrounded by panoramic windows and doors, which grant access to an open-air terrace on the back of the ship.

The fourth and final deck of the ship allows your guests to step away to relax and enjoy the views from outside. The outdoor furniture and additional bar make it a great place to be during firework cruises.

Kanan's professional staff is very informative. As you move forward into the planning stages of an event, they are happy to recommend decor and Chicago catering vendors. They also assist in coordinating a functional layout and itinerary of the events on board. Your guests are sure to enjoy this unique experience that allows them to see Chicago from a different angle.

Got a sweet tooth? Luckily, Halloween is not the only holiday for sweet treats. There are plenty of holidays that call for celebrating. What about: Got A Promotion Day, Aced That Final Exam Day, or I Need some Chocolate in my Life day. Whatever the need for celebration (real or fantasy) may be, Atlantans have the secret recipe for successful celebratory events: the Chocolate Pink Cafe.

Located amongst many of downtown Atlanta special event venues, this cafe attracts the inner child in all of us. From the colorful pastry display case to the trendy urban design of the cafe's dining area, it's also a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. Chocolate Pink's menu is a decadent array of gourmet chocolates, cookies, cakes and tarts, as well as beverages to complement each treat. Special favorites include the White Choc Raspberry Layer Cake, the Pink Lemonade Cupcake and the Apple Frangipane Tart.

The cozy event room at this unique Atlanta venue seats 32 of your closest friends and family for special occasions. Many brides, future moms and even little "divas" have been spotted sampling the "always dessert" menu. In fact, one recent patron was the ever-so-popular Bravo TV reality Real Housewives of Atlanta show star Kim Zolciak, who held her daughter Brielle's birthday party at the cafe last season.

Catering options are available for off-site Atlanta events. Executive chefs can tailor a delicious menu for your next Atlanta wedding, corporate meeting or even private in-home function. No matter whether you're taking a break from lunch or even from your diet, the Chocolate Pink Cafe in Atlanta is the premier choice for pastry delight.

View more information on Chocolate Pink Cafe, along with other Atlanta special event facilities, on the Cvent Supplier Network

The Hearty Restaurant in Chicago is a small storefront space located in the neighborhood of Lakeview, just north of bustling downtown. Partners Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh are no strangers to the food service industry. You may recognize them from their Food Network television series "The Party Line with The Hearty Boys," from the front of their cookbook Talk with Your Mouth Full, or from seeing them in person at one of their restaurants or at their catering facility in Chicago.

These food experts have mastered the design of mid-century American comfort food in their new 60-seat venue. The space is decorated with sea glass subway tiles, a hand-crafted mahogany bar, walls of exposed brick as well as modern stainless steal kitchen tables and stools. The walls are a burnt orange color with accents of a toned down lime green, which sets off a wall mounted fireplace as well as bespoke stained glass art.

Their upscale menu includes a house dish of macaroni and cheese, a rabbit corn dog, foil-wrapped fish grilled over hot coals, and Southern fried chicken. Beverages at this Chicago restaurant staple include American vintage classics such as The Brown Derby and The Aviation, as well as a few different brilliant twists on the standard Bloody Mary. Also available is a wine list comprised of selections from domestic vineyards in Georgia and Texas.

Not only have The Hearty Boys conquered television, books and restaurants, but they have also been a top Chicago catering company for the last 10 years. Their ample and delicious sample menus are just a start when planning a wedding or corporate event in Chicago.

Whether on-site at the restaurant or at a catered Chicago meeting, The Hearty Boys are sure to please your palate!

Although Atlanta is a landlocked city distant from the Atlantic Ocean, there is hope for those planners interested in making waves at their next Atlanta event. Two aquatic attractions in the region include Stone Mountain Park and Lake Lanier. With versatile options for events large and small, both of these attractions offer your guests an escape to the water without traveling far out of the city.

Stone Mountain Park in all its granite glory features some of the most unique special event venues in Atlanta. Plan a party aboard the Henry W. Grady Paddlewheel Riverboat, where you and 299 guests can set sail amongst the wooded campgrounds of the park.

Your guests will find more than enough room to entertain themselves on any of its three decks, one of which is enclosed for those chilly fall nights. Invite them to partake in cocktails and delicious treats in the Stone Mountain's Golf Course Clubhouse, then hop on the boat for a fun-filled evening.

The sights are not the only thing your guests can enjoy at Stone Mountain. Catering is provided by the on-site catering staff, where the selection seems to be Fourth of July year-round. From Southern fried chicken to sliced smoked beef brisket, there's no reason why your guest should leave on an empty stomach.

Another great venue option in Atlanta for enjoying the great outdoors is the Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Comprised of over 23,000 square feet of mutlipurpose event space including 22 meeting and event facilities, the resort offers indulgent amenities such as the Legacy on Lanier Golf club, a spa, an equestrian center and a beach with exhilarating water park adventures.

Whether your venue of choice is actually on the water or just nearby, remember that although Atlanta is a land locked city it still offers several venues for impressive aquatic events!

Remember your excitement at the first time you saw a lion up close, or when you first heard a rattlesnake's tail jiggle? A trip to the zoo has always been thought of as a child's playground, a place to see the animals that you'd only known from television or the encyclopedia. Now, you can offer your event guests a renewed sense of childhood bliss at Zoo Atlanta.

This unique downtown Atlanta venue has some of the most intriguing amenities offered with an entrance ticket. Between the live shows, petting zoo and giant panda exhibit, there will be plenty of options for your attendees, whether they consider the zoo an Atlanta corporate event venue, banquet hall, or even Atlanta wedding venue.

The multipurpose function space at Zoo Atlanta is quite extensive, capable of accommodating for 20 to 5,000 guests. Check out the Chinese Plaza & Panda Veranda in which you can enjoy a meal with 100 of your closest friends amidst the panda's natural habitat. For presentations or seminars, the Coca-Cola World Studio is an excellent selection with theater seating for over 250 guests.

Packages include, if your guests are brave enough, an animal encounter (with trainer of course) with demonstrations to educate and entertain. Catering is provided by on-site caterers Culinary Sol, which serves up savory dishes including brie en croute, chilled smoked salmon and an array of dishes from around the world.

So for your next event encourage your guests to join you on an exploration of the world's finest animal treasures at Zoo Atlanta.

View more information about booking Zoo Atlanta as your next Atlanta event facility on the Cvent Supplier Network

The Field Museum welcomed 900 guests Saturday for its annual gala hosted by the Women's Board. The perfect theme for a gala event hosted by successful women? Diamonds! From the crystal centerpieces to glittering topiaries, the event took this theme one step further to create a memorable impression on guests.

The theme correlated nicely with the venue itself, which opens its doors today for the brand new exhibition, "The Nature of Diamonds." This black-tie Chicago event allowed guests to preview the new exhibit, where, according to staff members, there was a constant crowd in front of the glass display cases that house 800 exquisite objects and some of the world's most beautiful gemstones. Amongst the stones themselves, guests were able to view some of the most intricate jewelry designed by the top designers as well as pieces owned by celebrities Elton John, Joan Crawford and more.

When guests entered the gala, they were greeted by violinists stationed in the museum's main stairwell. Heffernan Morgan, one of Chicago's top event design firms, was responsible for the stunning decor. Its custom centerpieces included tiered vessels, mirror boxes, and blush cymbidium orchids on top of gray bengaline linens supplied by BBJ Linens. Frost, another Chicago event design firm that works closely with the Field Museum, created a video of falling diamonds which had a projection that measured 50 by 660 feet.

Popular Chicago caterer Food for Thought supplied food and drinks, which included passed appetizers of ahi tuna bites, a plated dinner of pepper-crusted beef tenderloin and sherry braised short ribs, and desserts that included golden apricot tiramisu in white chocolate and topped with "golden sparkle curls." The event sponsor, Tiffany & Co., also added to the table decor with their impeccable wrapped gifts for all of the guests.

The gala raised about $1.4 million dollars and drew in over 250 more guests than previous years. The Women's Board thanked its sponsor Tiffany & Co. for their generosity and confirmed that the anticipation for this event topped the group's events in the past.

For more information on the Chicago venue and/or vendors for this event, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Are you in need of a quick getaway for a group of employees? Need a fun, easy, inexpensive option for a team outing? Or maybe you're simply looking for something a little different than the norm for your next Dallas business meeting? Consider Group Dynamix in Addison! If you've not yet discovered this excellent Dallas event venue, now's the time.

Owner and "Head Coach" Stephen Mackintosh, aka Coach Mack, has turned his love of team spirit and supportive play into one of the largest, most popular indoor team building centers in the country. His team focuses on group performance and reflection through unique and fun-filled activities that encourage 100 percent participation, 100 percent of the time.

When it comes to interactive team building in Dallas, these guys are pros. They will customize and facilitate events to your company's desired theme, timing, and scale. Whether you have 15 IT guys for half a day or 100 PR reps for an all-day rally, they have the space and means to keep any group entertained. Considering a group upwards of 500 people? No worries. There is 18,000 square feet of usable Dallas event space complete with a ropes course, laser tag, or beach balls ready to pump up and motivate even the most passive participant.

Located in the heart of Addison, close to one of Dallas' most notorious shopping, dining, and entertainment districts, Group Dynamix is easily accessible to several well known full-service and select-service hotels. The facility can accommodate simple team outings or full-fledged corporate events with packages that include use of on-site audio-visual equipment, including wireless microphone, video capabilities with screen (check out the 20-foot-by-20-foot movie wall!), and much more. Snacks and beverages can be provided, but outside catering is allowed and encouraged, so you to work within your budget with any Dallas caterer or restaurant—a rare find for Dallas venues these days.

Hotel Palomar Chicago, a Kimpton Hotel, is set to open in 2010 in the stylish River North neighborhood of Chicago. This luxury Chicago hotel correlates well with this effervescent neighborhood by celebrating the arts with chic complexity. Complete with 261 rooms and suites, an indoor heated pool, a sundeck and 5,800 square feet of meeting space, the Hotel Palomar is sure to open its doors to many interested guests.

The chic Chicago accommodations were styled with a contemporary urban design and art infused surroundings. Each room has floor-to-ceiling windows, an iHome docking station, L'Occitane bath amenities, a variety of pillow styles and plush terry cloth spa robes. Kimpton Hotels strives to meet a high level of customer satisfaction delivered with true luxury hospitality services and style. At the Hotel Palomar, the brand's attention to personalized room services and amenities combine to enhance a guests experience unlike any other brand.

Meetings and events at the Palomar can range from intimate Chicago meetings of 160 people to larger affairs of 300 guests. The hotel's distinctive catering services are provided by the adjacent restaurant, which features a wide variety of contemporary American cuisine.

Groups are invited to take advantage of Hotel Palomar's Grand Opening Special. This Chicago meeting promotion includes group room block rates of $99, weekends and weekdays through 2010, amenities from their "pick your perks" menu, and 10 percent off a master account.

View more information about Hotel Palomar Chicago on the Cvent Supplier Network