The "Catered Event of the Year" recognizes outstanding planning and execution for on-premise, off-premise and wedding reception events.

Award Category Definitions & Eligibility Award Categories by Budget: less than $25,000, $25,000 - $75.000, more than $75,000

• On-Premise Catered Event -- Any event, excluding wedding reception events, produced by hotels on-property,
  restaurants with in-house facilities, and other venues with "in-house" caterers.
• Off-Premise Catered Event -- Any event, excluding wedding reception events, catered through the transport of food and beverage to an event site, even if food finishing and plating occurs at the venue.
• Best Wedding Reception -- The catered reception occurring after a wedding ceremony held at either an on- or off-premise site as defined above. A Wedding Reception must be entered in this category -- it cannot be entered as either an On-premise or Off-premise event. Guest Tables from the Wedding Reception event entered in this category may also be entered in the "Best Guest Table" category as a separate entry, if desired.

Note that events entered in the "Catered Event of the Year" category may also be entered in the "Team Award" category as a separate entry if desired. 

• NACE members in good standing who catered the event are eligible.
• Members of the NACE National Board of Directors are not eligible
• NACE-sponsored or NACE-related events are not eligible.
• Team entries are allowed when joint efforts were required to produce the event. Teams may include other NACE members in good standing or non-NACE members, but must be entered by the NACE Member who catered the event.

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Section 1: Elements Statement (max. 15 points). 500 word max.

• Summary of the catered event including theme, goals, objectives and number of attendees. Entry will be judged on how well the event met the purpose, theme, goals and objectives of the client, and the different, unique or creative qualities which elevated the program to this level.

Section 2: Event Planning & Venue (max. 15 points). Up to 5 pages, text only, one topic per page on:

• Overall event plan timeline and day of event timeline (2,000 word max.)
• Budget and actual revenue and expense - what the client actually spent with your company,
  for the part of the event for which you were contracted, plus the dollar value of any
  donated in-kind goods or services (1,000 word max.)
• Venue/Event Site - include location, description of venue, unusual/unique challenges
  presented by the site (2,000 word max.)

Section 3: Food & Beverage Presentation & Staffing (max. 20 points):

• List Menu & explain how the menu coordinated with the event theme. Describe food and
  beverage in terms of color, texture, flavor, and presentation in support of theme (2,000 word max.)
• Provide Food and Beverage cost breakdown (2,000 word max.)
• Describe the service design, food station design, and any staff costumes, interactive
  participation, or other unique features of the service element (3 items, including a layout
  drawing and photos must appear in Section 6)

Section 4: Event Theme (max. 20 points). Up to 3 pages total, text only

• Event theme goals (1,000 word max.)
• Décor Elements - describe how the theme was supported by floral décor, linens, props,
  balloons, printed materials, etc. (2,000 word max.)

Section 5: Entertainment & Technical Support (15 points)

• Technical Elements - description of unique technical support elements and how special
  effects, tenting, lighting, or staging was used to support program theme (2 pages)
• Entertainment Elements - description of unique aspects of entertainment, and whether it
  supported/relied on the special effects, lighting, staging and theme of the event (1 page)

Section 6: Supporting Material (max. 15 points)

• Up to 10 photos and PDF files of food displays and/or tables, print materials, invitations, marketing materials, client-authored thank you letters, etc