As the sun rose on UCLA, there was already a flurry of activity permeating as the campus prepared for Bruin Family Weekend. This annual tradition welcomes thousands of guests from across the nation and around the world who gather to spend time with their students in their lives, most of whom are freshman, and learn more about what makes UCLA the No. 1 public university in the nation.
In total, the campus welcomed roughly 5,000 individuals over the two days event.
A critical component of events, no matter the size, is food, and UCLA Conferences & Catering works to help clients keep their hungry guests happy.
“Bruin Family Weekend is one of our largest events of the year,” said Samantha Chan, director of UCLA Conferences, Catering and Events, which provides planning expertise, professional catering services and meeting rooms all year round, plus overnight accommodations during the summer. “People expect a lot from UCLA because of its world-class reputation and commitment to excellence, and our campus catering operations are no different. We put our all into making every event match that standard.”
In nearby kitchens, talented chefs, cooks and bakers had been chopping, cutting, assembling, blending, mixing and finishing items to be delivered for two breakfast events. In addition, banquet staff are gathering equipment, loading trucks and charting floor plans. One event held in Dickson Plaza welcomed parents and families, while other one held on the Ahmanson Terrace at Royce Hall was for UCLA alumni.
And this was only the beginning.
By noon, the team had prepared and delivered lunch to six different “Meet the Dean” events and were preparing for dinner service. They also provided breakfast service the following morning.
“An event like this requires a great deal of logistics, planning and care,” said Chan. “Everything needs to be perfect.”
The same care and dedication to excellence also extends to smaller gatherings,” said Chan, noting that groups as small as 20 can order catering from her team for their meetings, celebrations and other events. UCLA Conferences & Catering can also help with meeting spaces at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center and various other locations at UCLA.
“We’re really a one-stop shop for events at UCLA. It’s something we take extreme pride in.”