The 12 Caterers Feeding the Republican National Convention
The 12 Caterers Feeding the Republican National Convention. How many caterers do you usually book for your biggest meeting? We’re guessing it’s not 12 caterers, which is the number on tap for this week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland. An article in Food Service Director tells the tale:
“All political eyes are turned to the 2016 Republican and Democratic national conventions. Tens of thousands of politicos, delegates, reporters and visitors will flock to Cleveland and Philadelphia. Respectively, in July—and someone has to feed them all. Food Service Director takes a sneak peek behind the scenes at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, which seats more than 20,000 people. The logistics for the Republican National Convention have been coming together for more than a year, says Audrey Scagnelli, national press secretary for the committee on arrangements.
“Aramark, the vendor for Quicken Loans Arena, will play a big role in feeding the masses. Organizers wanted to highlight the sense of community pride within the host city at the convention’s four main feeding locations, Scagnelli says. The RNC surveyed more than 50 area caterers to gauge their capacity. They had to previously have catered an event for at least 5,000 people—and 14 were chosen for a tasting event in February. Twelve companies, including Bubba’s Q, owned by former Cleveland Browns player Al “Bubba” Barker, eventually were selected.
Local Benefits
Of course, the participants, visitors, protesters, and media will also be out in the city feeding themselves at times. This accounted for in today’s release by the U.S. Travel Association of the estimated economic impact of both the 2016 RNC and the 2016 DNC. A combined $360 million in direct spending on lodging, transportation, food and drink, entertainment/recreation, retail shopping, and the like, as well as spending by the convention host committees, security, etc.
Considering that the conventions together will be supporting 3,600 jobs, U.S. Travel CEO Roger Dow has a suggestion for how presidential candidates can follow through on their job-creation promises: “Hold more conventions!” Access the full economic impact report and read about how U.S. Travel is making its voice heard over the next to weeks in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
