Event planning, in particular a wedding, is no place to fly blind. What professionals know is that it always helps to have checklists, criteria by which you evaluate and ultimately contract with vendors. This applies as much to food and beverage as with photographers, musicians, venue rental – and car parking services.
A Los Angeles valet service that performs at the top of their game should also be at the level of expectations of your event guests. Remember, they are the people entrusted with the safekeeping (and short-term operation) of very valuable, very expensive property. They also set the tone of the event upon guests’ arrival and departure.
So here are a few questions that can help you determine if a valet service is up to the task:
- How do you define a perfect valet-service event? In other words, what’s the best outcome from when you are hired for a party or other event?
In other words, how do they describe and envision a smooth operation? Every venue and every guest crowd is different, therefore it helps for them to give a broad description of what a successful event looks like from a cars and parking perspective? - Have you ever had to solve a car valet problem on the spot? What are the kinds of unpredictable situations that you’ve seen in your business?
As almost any Los Angeles wedding valet vendor will tell you, problems in events are to be expected. The key question is what kind of problem-solving skills does the vendor have? They should exhibit a certain degree of wisdom and experience in their answer. - How do you handle over-served guests?
While the law does not place responsibility on the event host to monitor the alcohol levels of a guest upon their departure, there are some situations where it may be obvious that a guest would be a hazard to public safety if handed the wheels of a car. There should be a contingency plan in such an event. - If a party guest complained about something that wasn’t your fault – a scratch in the paint, for example – how would you handle it?
This is to determine if the Los Angeles valet service you work with hires appropriate staff and knows how to handle potential conflict. - What do you think the wait time for a car will be at the end of the event?
This is where the service provider will dig into the logistics of the event flow, the location of the event itself and where cars will be parked. The discussion should include the speed of their staff, their degree of care with vehicles, and how a rush of departures may effect this closing portion of the event. - Do you have a policy on accepting tips?
There is no reason for guests not to tip, but it should not be expected. In other words, the host pays for good service for your guests. Everything else is extra, like icing on the cake.
Of course, these discussions are over and above matters of price. It pays to shop around, but keep in mind the value this service brings to an event in which you are already investing a good amount of money. How the cars get parked, and how your guests are treated, should be considered part of that investment.
