Blog posts tagged with 'hotels'

Corporate holiday parties have been a source of networking and good employee morale for decades. With the downturn in the economy, it was thought that the corporate holiday party would meet its demise. Special event planners, party rental companies, caterers, restaurants, and hotel venues can breathe a sigh of relief-with BizBash and Seamless surveying more than 1,500 event professionals, it appears corporations still have reason to celebrate. With answers to burning questions such as when the parties are held, and where the food is from, check out this infographic on the BizBash site to get an idea of the event rental needs you should be stocking up on.

Source: BizBash

Much like my previous post, 5 Problems with Plastic Folding Tables, this post will focus on the 5 most common problems with Wood Folding Tables. Chances are if you have ever considered purchasing a Wood (or Plywood) Folding Table, you have also considered the difficulties that you may experience with this particular type of table. Without any further ado, here are the 5 most common problems you can experience with Wood folding tables.

Wood Tables Can Split and Splinter When Dropped

Plywood tables unfortunately can splinter. This typically occurs if they are dropped; the area that sustained the impact will show damage similar to the picture. If you have the facilities to turn a damaged table into a smaller table (8-ft into a 6-ft) then this risk may not affect your purchase decision. If you do not have the facilities to make a fix you will likely need to purchase a new table.

The Table Feet Fall Off

Okay so apparently this is a problem with both wood and plastic folding tables! Again like the plastic folding table feet, the wood folding table feet generally don’t just fall off, they are pulled off unintentionally. The most common culprit is still the soft ground. While not a major issue by any means it certainly can be an annoying one. To solve this issue you will occasionally need to buy replacement feet so the tables won’t scratch or mar the floor surfaces where they are being used.

Table Legs Don’t Stay Folded in Place

Unlike plastic folding tables that use clips to hold the folded legs in place, wood folding tables use friction from the folding mechanism to stay folded. With time, wear and tear causes there to be less and less friction meaning the legs can start to unfold while the table is being moved.

Wood Tables Do Not Survive Well Outdoors

If you have spent some time checking out our blog, you will have seen our long term Plastic Folding Table and Wood Folding Table outdoor durability test. In this test we have taken things to the extreme, absolutely nothing has been done to either table since they were set up months ago. From the blog posts you can clearly see that if the table is going to be spending very much time outside exposed to the elements, you will probably want to purchase plastic folding tables.

Maintenance Can Be Tedious

Unlike plastic folding tables that require a quick wipe down and little else, wood folding tables can require additional maintenance. While not required and generally dependent on the use, many wood folding table owners opt to refinish their tables every year or two. This process involves sanding, staining (if desired), and a final varnish coat. If done correctly the table can look just about like new but keep in mind there is significant effort involved in this process.

The BC Connect Show is a brand new trade show combining the successful BC Foodservice Expo and the BC Hospitality Industry Expo into one big show! Everyone here at National Event Supply is excited at the prospects of the new show and we want you to be just as excited about the BC Connect show as we are. Here's our top 5 reasons that you should attend this year’s BC Connect Show in Vancouver.

The BC Local Food Pavilion

Everyone knows that fresh is better. Many restaurants, hotels, and caterers have turned to sourcing local ingredients to maximize the quality and flavour of their food offerings. British Columbia is lucky to have many great local products prefect for your spring menu. Are you interested in seeing what local flavours are available right here in British Columbia? If you are, the BC Local Food Pavilion is a must see at this year's BC Connect Show.

It’s in Vancouver

Okay, so I realize if you live in the lower mainland area of British Columbia, the prospect of traveling into or around the Vancouver area may not seem like a great idea to you. If that is the case consider this, not only is Vancouver one of Canada’s largest cities, it is also one of the world’s most livable cities. That's right, coming in just ahead of Toronto (4th place), and Calgary (5th place, tied), Vancouver was ranked as the 3rd most livable city in the world by The Economist. Don’t you just love to beat out the folks in Toronto and Calgary! Still not enough? Add in that the fantastic selection of restaurants, cafés, world class hotels, and fantastic setting and visiting the BC Connect show becomes a pretty exciting proposition.

Free Attendance

That’s right! CRFA members get to attend the BC Connect show for free. Compare that to the Toronto CRFA Show which costs $50 to attend and it is a no brainer! The BC Connect show gives you a great opportunity to visit with new and existing suppliers, talk to others in the industry, and maybe even learn a few things.

The Industry Lunch

The Industry Lunch features a keynote speech from Kevin Brauch, an Iron Chef America personality and Food Network Star. Kevin, on his TV series The Thirsty Traveler, explores food and drink in exotic locations. Having spent years in Toronto’s hottest night life establishments and restaurants before making the jump to TV, Kevin has extensive knowledge of the Food and Beverage industry.

The Beverage Showcase Pavilion

Looking for a new British Columbia based craft beer to serve? What about an award winning British Columbia wine? If you are, you have found the right spot! The local craft beer scene across Canada has been a hot market for a few years now. Most restaurants and hotels are offering at least 1 local craft beer with many more offering 5 or more. If you are not offering any craft beer selections you are missing a great opportunity! You will want to be sure to check out the Beverage Showcase Pavilion at the BC Connect show to sample a variety of beverages that you may want to add to your menu.

Now that we have convinced you to attend the BC Connect Show, it only seems reasonable for you to visit our booth # 340/441. We look forward to seeing you October 27th and 28th, 2013 at the BC Connect Show in the Vancouver Convention Centre!

"Vancouver Skyline And Stanley Park" courtesy of Rosemary Ratcliff / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Day 88—September 4, 2013

The last time we looked in on our long-term table test, our 4-foot NES Rectangular Plastic Folding Table was going strong while the top layer of our 4-foot NES Rectangular Wood Folding Table was starting to peel badly. Now that summer is over, we thought it would be a good time to look in on our table test and see what August’s heat and humidity has done to both of the tables. We were really curious to find out if the peeling had progressed on the wood folding table, and whether the weather was starting to deteriorate the plastic table. So after almost 90 days, how are the tables holding up?

As you can see from the picture, the layers of the plywood have continued to separate with the top layer curling and the layer below starting to buckle and form waves. The tabletop continues to discolour from exposure to the elements. However, while the wood deteriorates, the metal hardware on the table has not begun to rust and the powder-coated table legs are still in pretty good condition.

The plastic table is still showing no ill effects from its time out in the elements. One would merely need to wipe the table off and it would be suitable for use at an event. Again, the metal hardware on the table has not taken any damage from the moisture in the air, or the rain storms that we have had.

After the last check in on the tables, I was wondering if we would see more peeling on the top layer of plywood or if it would completely separate as the glue holding the layer together weakens. The top layer has continued to separate, but it is still firmly attached to the table. The buckling of the second layer sort of surprises me. I didn’t expect that we would see deterioration of an inner layer simply because it is somewhat protected by the top layer of plywood.

I’m not surprised by the lack of deterioration of the plastic table-top. I was sure that if anything was going to survive a test of the elements, it was going to be thee plastic top. I am very happy that they metal table-legs on both tables are coming through this test in with flying colours. It will be interesting to see what happens to them as the temperature decreases this fall, and what effect snow will have on the tables.

Chances are that if you have ever considered purchasing a Plastic Folding Table, you have also considered the possible problems that the table may have. We have compiled a list of the top 5 most common problems with plastic folding tables.