UNLV catering staff are well-versed in curating meals for diverse groups and occasions. Engage with them early in your planning process to leverage their insights on optimal timing, menu selection, and portions.

Familiarize yourself with the university’s preferred and available catering services to ensure the best culinary experience at UNLV events.

Primary Options and Guidelines

• General UNLV Campus Catering: Aramark is the contracted and preferred caterer for services provided on the UNLV campus, unless otherwise noted. To plan and order catering services for your event, use Catertrax, Aramark’s online system.
• Hospitality Hall or Stan Fulton Building: Chef Mark Sandoval is the designated catering provider for venues within these buildings. If Chef Mark’s team is unavailable, Aramark or another outside caterer may be contacted for catering services. Visit the Hospitality Events and Catering webpage for more information.
• Specialty Outside Food Trucks: UNLV Dining has designated specialty food trucks that may be available for event catering.

If you opt to use an outside caterer, be advised that there is additional work to ensure they comply with health and safety standards. The chosen caterer must provide proof of a valid health permit and carry adequate insurance coverage. Work with Risk Management and Safety to ensure you obtain all necessary documentation to meet all safety requirements. 

Ensure easy access to food and drink tables for all attendees and minimize any disruptions that might arise during the setup or dismantling of catering stations.

Provide sufficient vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other specialized meal options. Inclusivity goes a long way in making all attendees feel valued.

The time of year and scheduled hours of your event significantly influence your food and beverage choices.

Examples of Complimentary Meal and Season Pairings

• Summer events might lean towards lighter and cooler options (such as salads) to reflect a preference for refreshing dishes.
• During the fall and winter, warmer and heartier meals become more fitting to meet the desire for hot meals during colder weather.

You can strategically switch between meal types to minimize expensive meals. For example, serving a hearty breakfast can offset the need for an elaborate lunch.

Examples of Cost-Saving Meal Strategies

The following approaches can help manage attendees' meal expectations and optimize costs.

• Short events or tighter budgets: Prioritize beverages and light snacks to keep attendees refreshed without the costs of full meal service.
• Events ending before lunchtime: Consider ending the event before the typical lunch hour and compensate with a more filling breakfast.
• Events running from the morning to the early afternoon: Consider a combination of a light continental breakfast and a substantial lunch.

Morning events should include options such as coffee, tea, water, or juice. Afternoon sessions can benefit from refreshing choices like iced tea or infused water. Evening events might offer decaffeinated beverages or, where appropriate, a selection of alcoholic drinks.

Strictly adhere to the University Alcohol Policy and protocols regarding alcoholic beverages. This includes completing the Alcohol Permit Request and ensuring all beverages are served by a licensed bartender with up-to-date certifications.

For further information, email the Division of Student Affairs, which manages this process.