Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Practice Exam

What describes a setup where guests pay for food and drinks on their own?

1. Concessions

2. Family style service

3. Buffet

4. Cafeteria service

The correct answer is: Concessions

The correct choice is concessions. In a concession setup, guests are responsible for purchasing their own food and beverages, typically found at events such as fairs, sporting events, or concerts. This model allows for individual transactions and offers a variety of food and drink options that guests can choose from at their convenience. This distinguishes it from other service types. For instance, family-style service involves serving food in large dishes on the table for guests to help themselves, often as part of a more communal dining experience. A buffet allows guests to serve themselves from a variety of prepared dishes but usually operates under a payment structure that is pre-arranged, often included in the event's ticket or fee. Cafeteria service also typically includes a selection for guests to choose from, but it usually involves a fixed price paid upfront rather than individual purchases for each item. By understanding these distinctions, it becomes clear why concessions accurately describes a scenario where guests pay for their food and drinks independently.