How A Traditional Hotel Breaks The Mold Of the Meeting Break

A Unique Hotel Model Leads Innovation

At the iconic Plaza Hotel, CPS Events transforms guest experience by infusing unexpected, creative concepts into conventional meeting and conference agendas. Managed by New York’s premiere catering company Great Performances, CPS Events debuts break stations uniquely crafted for guests of The Plaza Ballroom and meeting spaces.  In a ballroom 107 years old the blend of trend-setting edginess results in the creation of an experience that is equal parts deliciousness, entertainment and elegance.

A playful spin on a morning meeting, the aptly named Breakfast in Bed package features a bountiful spread presented as if tucked into an actual bed. With custom tables placed inside a gilded 19^th century bed frame, linens are used to create the illusion of bed sheets – including a faux duvet and bed skirt. A selection of breakfast treats are then set across the “bed” including Mini French Toast Bites, Yogurt Parfaits and fresh fruits.

For afternoon meetings and events, the team at CPS Events has gone back to nature with the creativeEdible Garden presentation. Using custom wooden crates designed by Josh Tierney, Design Director of Great Performances, the presentation includes carrots, peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes that sprout out of finely ground pumpernickel “dirt” for guests to harvest as a healthy snack. Alongside the fresh finger foods, seasonal salads such as the Young Escarole & Cauliflower Salad with Tahini and Caper Berry, Asparagus & Snap Pea Salad with Radish & Chervil are also presented with gardening tools as serving utensils.
For on-the-go mornings or mid-day snacks, the Plaza Newsstand is the perfect addition to a New York City meeting. A play on the quintessential newsstands that line the streets of Manhattan, this gilded set up is completely customizable with selections of snacks, newspapers and even company literature. For breakfast meetings, the CPS Events team can create elevated grab-and-go options such as savory Egg Sandwiches or Vegan Granola Bars from the Great Performances’ Just Sprouted line. Mini bottles of orange juice are also available as well as freshly brewed coffee served from the iconic blue and white New York coffee cups. In the afternoons, guests can snack on homemade beet chips and truffle popcorn – also from Just Sprouted.

Taking create-your-own salads to the next level, the vibrant Lettuce Bar set up presents guests with an extensive array of fresh lettuces including tatsoi, mizuna, escarole, chicory, arugula, green mustard, red mustard, Boston, Bibb, red leaf, green leaf and radicchio. The leafy greens are displayed alongside informative signs describing their individual textures and flavors in order to help diners select the best base for their salad creations. To top things off, guests will then choose from seasonal vegetables such as beets, cucumbers and carrots.

No matter what type of event guests are looking to plan, CPS Events offers a diverse portfolio of meeting and event options that are easily adaptable to every occasion. From opulent affairs in the Grand Ballroom to charitable soirees in the Terrace Room to high profile business conferences in the property’s state-of-the-art meeting rooms, every event at The Plaza is sure to be truly original.

About Great Performances:
Great Performances is New York City’s premier catering company spearheading the evolving “food as fashion” movement. The company is known for incorporating seasonal ingredients into its delicious, innovative and beautifully designed food presentations. Counting many of the city’s most high-profile cultural institutions and landmark properties as clients, such as Sotheby’s, The Plaza, Asia Society, BAM, and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (at the Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center), Great Performances is the only New York City caterer to own and operate its own 60-acre organic farm, Katchkie Farm, in Kinderhook, NY. For more information, please visit http://www.greatperformances.com/.