Banquets and Events Menu at The Blackwell
Our dedication to culinary excellence isn’t limited to grand banquets. Whether you're hosting a formal gala or a casual business lunch, our catering services offer a menu tailored to your specific needs. Our culinary team expertly prepares dishes for groups ranging from intimate gatherings of two to large-scale events of 300 attendees.
Banquets and Meeting Policies
Deposits are required to guarantee any function room. If direct billing cannot be arranged, we will collect for all charges in advance of the function date. Standard deposit arrangements are 20% or $2,000 due at the time of the signed contract, 50% of estimated revenues due 60 days in advance and balance due 3 business days prior to the event along with the final guarantee.
The Blackwell will guarantee space to accommodate your contracted number of guests according to the desired set. We do not guarantee specific rooms more the 45 days prior to your event. The Blackwell reserves the right to change any assigned locations, should there be an increase or decrease in the estimated number of attendees or a change in the program or its agenda.
All meeting room set-ups and audio/visual needs must be coordinated with the Catering Manager no later than three (3) weeks prior to the scheduled event. Should advance setup or late teardown be required, an additional set-up/teardown fee will be incurred. Should your meeting requirements change from the signed banquet event order after the room set has been completed, an additional set-up fee may be incurred.
Menus for all events must be finalized with the hotel’s Catering Manager no later than three (3) weeks prior to the scheduled event. Due to uncertain market circumstances, prices are subject to change without notice and substitutions may be necessary. In order to comply with local and state regulations, all food and beverage items must be purchased through The Blackwell and serviced by The Blackwell staff. An approximation of the number of attendees is to be communicated to the hotel’s Catering Manager seven (7) business days prior to the scheduled event. The actual guarantee is due three (3) business days prior to the scheduled event. The hotel cannot be responsible for service to more than 5% over the guarantee. Your final guarantee is not subject to reduction. If no guarantee is received, The Blackwell will consider the contracted number to be the correct guaranteed number. All charges will be based on the guarantee or upon the actual number of persons served, whichever is greater. For your convenience, we are providing a schedule for your guarantee due dates:
| Day of Event | for Final Guarantee |
| Sunday | Previous Wednesday by 10am |
| Monday | Previous Wednesday by 10am |
| Tuesday | Previous Thursday by 10am |
| Wednesday | Previous Friday by 10am |
| Thursday | Previous Monday by 10am |
| Friday | Previous Tuesday by 10am |
| Saturday | Previous Wednesday by 10am |
The Blackwell requires a guarantee for catered events as well as for meetings. It is the sole responsibility of the client to provide The Blackwell with this information. The expected guarantee is outlined in the Meeting and Banquet Requirements section of the contract. We reserve appropriate function space and offer pricing based on the expected guarantee. The food and beverage minimum does not include applicable taxes or the service charge. If the expected number of attendees decreases after signing of the agreement, the client will be responsible for the difference between the minimum expenditure and the actualized revenues plus applicable taxes. The differential amount will be applied to the group’s master account as a miscellaneous fee. If final attendance exceeds the expected attendance the day of the event, the price of the function will be based on the per person charges times the final number of guests.
A taxable service charge of 24% on the meeting room rental as well as food and beverage purchases plus all applicable state and local taxes will be added to all events and guestrooms (subject to change). Any group requesting state and/or local sales tax exemption must submit a copy of the tax exemption certificate at the time of signing this contract.
Special dietary restrictions will be accommodated, however will incur an additional charge of $5 per plate. Dietary restrictions are Chef’s Choice and are due with your final guarantee. Any requests within 24 hours of the event will incur a $10 charge, per plate.
The Blackwell reserves the right to inspect and control all private parties, meetings, receptions, etc. being held on the premises. Due to food safety regulations, no food or beverage of any kind is permitted to be brought into the banquet and/or meeting rooms or to be removed from the property.
The customer agrees to be responsible for any damages caused by the clients, his/her guests, invited employees, independent contractors, or their agents under the client’s control to any hotel room, function space or any other part of The Blackwell. Use of materials, such as confetti or glitter, will result in a minimum cleaning fee of $250 due to the cleaning process and labor required. Please notify the hotel’s Catering Manager of any special meeting requirements or function decorations you wish to use in the assigned location for your meeting.
Signage posting in the public areas of the hotel is not permitted unless the client presents written request and is approved by the hotel. All signs must be professionally printed and not hand lettered. The Blackwell Engineering staff must install signs and banners. A labor charge may apply. Please notify the hotel’s Catering Manager for more information.
The Blackwell requires all music or other excessive noise, disruptive to any other hotel guest or function to end by 12:00 midnight.
The Blackwell is not responsible for any meeting or personal items left in function rooms or public areas in and around the hotel and conference center. This includes personal items, displays and its associated items, or any other materials. Security services are available, please notify the hotel’s Catering Manager to make arrangements and for pricing.
All outside vendors conducting business at The Blackwell must be pre-approved by the hotel. Please notify the hotel’s Catering Manager in writing no later than thirty (30) days prior to your scheduled event.
All packages sent to the hotel should be pre-paid. The hotel will refuse any package coming C.O.D. In case of large shipments or crates, the hotel’s Catering Manager must be notified two (2) weeks in advance so that preparations can be arranged. The first five (5) boxes will be handled and stored at no charge to the client. A handling and storage fee of $5.00 per box thereafter will be assessed and charged to the client’s master bill. Multiple packages within a single shipment should be numbered in sequence (i.e., 1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3). Our receiving entrance is open from 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday. The Blackwell does not accept any liability for equipment, displays or other materials which arrive at the hotel. The client is responsible for insuring it properly for loss or damage.
Materials shipped for event should not arrive more than three (3) days prior to the scheduled event. Shipments of material, literature, etc. that are used in conjunction with a meeting at the Blackwell should be addressed as follows:
HOLD FOR: GUEST NAME
CONFERENCE / MEETING NAME
Arrival Date: OF CONFERENCE / MEETING
The Blackwell
2110 Tuttle Park Place
Columbus, Ohio 43210