Crafting Connections - The Art of Seating Arrangement

Luxury businesses spend a fortune on clients' wine and dining. Have you ever wondered what makes a luxury dining event truly memorable?

It's not just about the venue, the setup and the exquisite food—it's about the company you keep. In the world of luxury dining, a well-thought-out seating plan can transform an event, fostering meaningful relationships and lasting impressions. Here are some factors to consider:

𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
The type of table —whether long or round impacts the ambience and the level of the client (and with hosts) interaction. Long tables are more formal and foster intimate conversations, while round tables are more casual and encourage group discussions. In both settings, positioning the hosts is an art to maximise engagement and demonstrate the client's significance.

𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁'𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀
Ensure clients are seated next to those with whom they can communicate effectively. Beyond the obvious language abilities, other factors to consider are cultural nuances and communication preferences, such as whether they prefer to converse about opinions and logic or are more inclined to playfulness and humour.

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀
Respect clients' preferences regarding seating with their plus ones. Some may prefer sitting next to each other, while others enjoy facing each other. Hosts should also understand the relationship between the client and the plus one and whether it is publically acknowledged.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
Group clients based on shared interests—this could be about business, leisure, or values. This alignment not only fosters engaging conversations but also strengthens connections among the clients and with the brand.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
Is there any particular client that would appreciate sitting with an internal subject matter expert (such as a watch specialist)? Would seating certain clients near senior management create mutually enjoyable conversations?

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻
Craft a detailed seating chart with client names and a profile summary, ensure all hosts can recognise and greet clients in their preferred ways, and cite a thing or two that's relevant to them.

My dear clienteling experts, what other factors would you add to the list?