As the pandemic has progressed, one of the industries that has been hit the hardest is the event industry. With in-person events coming to a halt, this $211 billion* segment has had to pivot to virtual and hybrid alternatives.
Events are unpredictable—pandemic or not—and having the ability to adapt is key. Whether it’s moving an outdoor event indoors because of weather, or having to find a last-minute fill-in for the keynote speaker, you’re entrusted with the success of your clients’ events, and the show must go on.
You’ve already shifted to a virtual platform, ramped up your breakout sessions to adjust for smaller virtual group sizes, and worked with your field marketing team to send swag to attendees at home. But what about the food? Typically, you’re booking event space and caterers for networking happy hours, breakout coffee sessions, and VIP dinners. How do you now accommodate a global audience from the comfort of their homes? With meals and delivery through Uber Eats, of course.
As most events go, budgets and logistics have been mapped out for months—or, in some cases, years. Reallocating funds from receptions and dinners to providing meals for attendees at home can go a long way toward creating a memorable experience.
Why meal delivery?
Well-fed attendees are engaged attendees, and keeping them energized and excited is a great way to generate quality leads for your clients and pull off an event that will stand out from the rest. Available in more than 6,000 cities globally, Uber Eats gives attendees the ability to choose their own adventure. Maybe they’ll order from that really good Thai place down the street, or finally try that taco truck their friends have been raving about. Whatever the case, they’ll be able to order exactly what they want, and your client will be happy with the level of attendee engagement.
You can also provide meals and delivery to drive early registrations and live attendance. Offer an Uber Eats voucher to early registrants that they can redeem at the event and get more leads through the virtual door. And don’t forget the speakers and sponsors: be sure to thank them for their time and the knowledge they’ve brought to the event. Cover their coffee order before their session, or take care of dinner for them and their family at the end of the day.
Providing meals and delivery is a versatile way to spice up your event. No matter how you implement it, you can be sure to create a lasting impression on attendees and, most of all, your client.
How to provide meals and delivery at your next event
With Uber Eats, you can keep the energy high at your next event by covering meals for both attendees and VIPs. Here are a few ways you can incorporate the gift of Uber Eats into your event:
- To start the day: Give attendees Uber Eats voucher for their favorite breakfast item or coffee in the morning so that they’re ready and raring to go before the presentations start.
- During breakout sessions: Drive engagement during breakout sessions by offering an Uber Eats voucher or gift card to active participants. Your client will be happy that these sessions are filled and leads are more engaged.
- For the swag bag: Who doesn’t love free stuff? Digitally send an Uber gift card as a swag item so that attendees can use it at their leisure.
- To treat VIPs: Work with your client to create a list of VIPs and offer them an Uber Eats gift card or voucher for exclusive virtual VIP dinners and happy hours.
Vouchers and gift cards for Uber Eats allow you to offer meals and delivery to your attendees at any capacity. With Vouchers, you can keep costs low by setting time and budget constraints on your Uber for Business dashboard and only pay for what your recipients redeem. With gift cards, you can offer Uber Eats to recipients to use whenever they’d like for the full amount, as they would any other gift card. Whether it’s a cup of coffee or dinner for the whole family, you can easily meet the needs of your client by keeping their attendees engaged.
Vouchers are for any budget
Planning meals for a global audience can seem daunting, but by offering attendees a voucher to order a meal from their favorite local restaurant, you can avoid a lot of the guesswork. The Uber Eats app is currently available in 45 countries, giving your attendees accessibility to meals across the world.
With Vouchers, there is no minimum purchase needed, and you only pay for what recipients redeem. The Uber for Business dashboard allows you to set time and cost parameters so that you can stay on budget, no matter how big or small the event. Our dashboard also offers clear and transparent billing, so you can easily invoice your client when everything’s done.
Vouchers is a great way to reach your entire audience, keep event engagement high, and keep costs low. Your clients will love the opportunity to make a stronger connection with their leads, and they’ll love how much they’re saving in the process.
Adapting to this new normal of virtual and hybrid events means thinking creatively and meeting the needs of your clients and their attendees.
Meal delivery is an innovative way to create memorable moments at your next event. Whether you’re offering a voucher for everyone’s morning coffee or gift cards for a few lucky winners, attendees will be delighted to receive something a bit more personalized.
Have an event coming up? Get started with Uber for Business.
*US event market value in 2019, Allied Market Research, May 2020.
