Food & Beverage Policies
Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with our policies.
As the Convention Center's exclusive caterer, Centerplate has the sole sales and distribution rights to all food and beverage in the building. To assist us in providing first-class service to all our clients, we request the following:
Payment Policy
FOR MEETINGS, CONVENTIONS AND TRADE SHOW EVENTS
A 75% deposit and signed Food and Beverage contract is due 30 days prior to your event. The remaining balance is due 72 hours prior to the opening of the show. All money due to Centerplate will begin to accrue 1.5% interest from the date of the invoice for all sums over 30 days. Additionally, any costs of collection and enforcement of the contracted services will be the responsibility of the client.
FOR SOCIAL EVENTS (NON-CONVENTION RELATED)
A 25% deposit is required upon signing of the contract. An additional deposit of 50% of the total estimated food and beverage is required 30 days prior. The balance of payment is required 72 hours prior to the event by Cashier’s Check or Credit Card. Any additional charges incurred during the function will be due on completion of the event.
Guarantees
FOR FUNCTIONS OF 2,500 AND BELOW
Three (3) business days prior to your function (Monday through Friday), please advise the Catering Office of the exact number of guests attending. This number will constitute the guarantee, not subject to reduction, and charges will be made accordingly. The Food and Beverage Department will provide meals for 5% over the guarantee, up to a maximum of 30 meals. If no guarantee is received at the appropriate time, the expected attendance will be used as the guarantee. If the final guarantee is less than 66% of the originally proposed guarantee, a 5% price increase will apply to the final guarantees.The Food and Beverage Department reserves the right to move groups to a more suitable room if the guarantee differs from the expected attendance. In such cases, the client will be notified in advance.
FOR FUNCTIONS OF 2,501 AND ABOVE
A preliminary guarantee is due five (5) business days (Monday through Friday) prior to your function; this number is to be within 500 people of your final guarantee. Three (3) business days prior to your function, the final guarantee will be due. This number will constitute the guarantee, not subject to reduction, and charges will be made accordingly. If no guarantee is received at the appropriate time, the preliminary guarantee will be used as the guarantee. If the final guarantee is less than 66% of the originally proposed guarantee, a 5% price increase will apply to the final guarantees. The Food and Beverage Department will provide a maximum of 50 meals over the guarantee.The Food and Beverage Department reserves the right to move groups to a more suitable room if the guarantee differs from the expected or preliminary attendance. In such cases, the client will be notified in advance.
Prices
We will guarantee prices three (3) months prior to your event.
Specialty Events
Meal functions of 2,500 and above are considered “Specialty Events” and may require customized menus not in our guide. Your Catering Sales Manager will work with you to design menus that are creatively and logistically ap p ropriate for large numbers. In certain cases, a dditional labor and equipment fees may be applied to orchestrate such events.
China Service
All food and beverage events in the Exhibit Halls, Sails Pavilion or Outdoor Terraces, with the exception of plated meals, are accompanied by high-grade disposable ware. However, if china is a necessity, the following fees will be applied:
- Breakfast, Lunch, Receptions and Dinners: $2.00++ per person per meal period.
- Refreshment or Coffee Breaks: $1.00++ per person per break.
Cancellation Policy
In the event the function is cancelled within 30 days of the event, the deposit will not be returned. Within 30 days to six months, a refund of the deposit will be based on the viability of re-selling the space. Outside of six months, the deposit will be fully refunded. Full charges will be applied to cancellation of meals received within 72 hours prior to the function.
Taxes and Services Charges
The applicable California sales tax will apply to all food, beverage, labor, equipment rentals and service charges. A 19% service charge will apply to all food, beverage and labor charges.
Theme Décor
A variety of décor items and theme packages are available to enhance the atmosphere of your banquet room. Our professional catering personnel will be pleased to assist with planning and arranging for these additions to your event.
Security
At the discretion of the San Diego Convention Center, in order to maintain adequate security measures, you may be required to provide security for certain functions including but not limited to proms, homecomings, dances, etc. Security personnel will be at the sole expense and choice of the client. Please consult your Event Manager for details.
Holidays
There will be an automatic additional labor fee for food and beverage service or preparatory days on the following holidays: New Year’s Eve and Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Cesar Chavez Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Delayed Services
On the day of your event, if the agreed upon beginning or ending service time of your meal changes by 30 minutes or more, an additional labor charge will apply.
CAFE EXPRESS — Retail Concessions/* Portable Snack Carts
Appropriate operation of Concession Outlets will occur during all show hours, starting 1/2 hour before doors open. Concessions/Fixed Outlets may be operated without any dollar guarantees during the final exhibitor's move-in period (last day before show begins). NOTE: Hours are subject to change based on flow of business.
*For additional concession hours and/or Portable Snack Carts, a minimum guarantee of $500.00 in sales is required per 4 hour period or a $250.00 labor fee will apply.
MOBILE EXHIBITOR CONCESSIONS CART
Our Mobile Exhibitor Concessions Cart is available on move-in and move-out days in lieu of the concessions outlets being open. Please contact your Catering Sales Manager for details.
BOOTH CATERING
Please contact our Exhibitor Booth Catering Manager at 619-525-5800 to receive our Exhibitor Booth Catering Menu, designed specifically to draw attendees to your booth.
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