Some careers leave an impression. Others leave a legacy.

On June 18, the International Live Events Association (ILEA) NY Metro Chapter honored Jessica Alton with one of the organization’s highest distinctions—induction into the Hall of Legends—recognizing decades of leadership, innovation, mentorship, and lasting contributions to the live events industry.

For all of us at Thomas Preti Events to Savor, this recognition couldn’t be more fitting.

Jessica’s passion for hospitality extends far beyond producing exceptional events. Throughout her career, she has been a champion for collaboration, education, and elevating the standards of our industry. Whether mentoring emerging professionals, cultivating meaningful client relationships, or helping shape unforgettable experiences, her leadership has influenced countless people throughout the events community.

Her commitment to ILEA has reflected those same values. Through years of service, participation, and advocacy, Jessica has helped strengthen the organization while encouraging fellow event professionals to learn, grow, and build lasting connections.

Being inducted into the Hall of Legends is more than recognition of professional accomplishments—it celebrates the impact someone has made on an entire industry. Jessica’s career exemplifies that spirit through her generosity, creativity, and unwavering dedication to excellence.

As colleagues, partners, and friends gathered to celebrate this milestone, the evening served as a reminder of what makes the live events industry so special: the people behind every unforgettable experience.

Everyone at Thomas Preti Events to Savor is incredibly proud to celebrate Jessica and this well-deserved honor. Congratulations on your induction into the ILEA NY Metro Hall of Legends. Your leadership continues to inspire all of us, and we are grateful to be part of your journey.

Here’s to an extraordinary career—and to the many more chapters still to come.

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With this year’s LinkedIn NewFronts placing a major spotlight on video-first storytelling, it feels especially meaningful to step into this space, particularly as the LinkedIn NewFronts were proudly hosted at The Altman Building and catered by Thomas Preti Events to Savor.

From producing the experience to now creating our own original content, this marks a natural evolution for our team. Inspired by the same energy that brought voices like Corporate Natalie and Ryan Reynolds to the stage, PLATED is our way of showcasing creativity, culture, and innovation from within our kitchens.

Watch the full feature here!

https://lnkd.in/eZRndb_s

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At Thomas Preti Events to Savor, sustainability isn’t a once-a-year initiative—it’s a mindset woven into everything we do. But each Earth Day, we take a moment to step outside our venues, roll up our sleeves, and give back directly to the community we call home. 

On April 22, our team proudly hosted the 2nd Annual Long Island City Neighborhood Clean-Up, bringing together colleagues and neighbors for a shared purpose: caring for the spaces where we live and work. 

With energy, teamwork, and a lot of heart, we set out across sidewalks and storefronts—and in just one hour, collected an incredible 644 pounds of garbage. The result was more than just cleaner streets; it was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together with intention. 

We’re so grateful to our neighbors at Whole Foods Micro Kitchen and Lawton Mull for joining us in this effort. Partnerships like these are what make initiatives like this truly impactful. 

And of course, no Thomas Preti event would be complete without a touch of personality—be sure to check out our Earth Day Highlights on Instagram for behind-the-scenes moments and the team spirit that brought the day to life. 

While Earth Day is a meaningful milestone, it’s just one expression of a broader commitment. Across our events and operations, the Thomas Preti team continuously looks for ways to reduce impact and operate more responsibly. 

Our Green Team initiatives embrace efforts such as: 

• Waste Reduction & Diversion
  Prioritizing recycling, composting, and mindful waste management to lessen landfill contributions at events. 

• Sourcing with Intention
  • Partnering with local and regional vendors whenever possible to reduce transportation impact and support our surrounding community. 

• Sustainable Materials
  • Incorporating reusable, recyclable, or responsibly sourced service ware and materials across our events. 

• Food Responsibility
  • Being thoughtful in menu planning and production to reduce excess, while exploring opportunities for donation or repurposing where appropriate. 

• Community Engagement
  • Participating in neighborhood efforts—like our LIC clean-up—and fostering partnerships that extend our sustainability mission beyond the event space. 

• Internal Awareness & Education
  • Encouraging our team to bring forward ideas, adopt greener practices, and continue evolving how we operate every day. 

The success of this year’s clean-up has us already thinking about what’s next. Each year, we aim to grow—bringing in more partners, expanding our reach, and deepening our impact. 

Because at the end of the day, sustainability is about more than a single action—it’s about consistency, collaboration, and care. 

We can’t wait to do it again next year. Bigger, better, and even more impactful. 

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There is something energizing about a room full of event professionals coming together to exchange ideas before the workday begins. This January, The Altman Building proudly welcomed members of the International Live Events Association (ILEA) NY Metro Chapter for an inspiring breakfast program that combined meaningful conversation, professional development, and exceptional hospitality.

As a longtime supporter of the events community, Thomas Preti Events to Savor was honored to provide the morning’s culinary experience while The Altman Building served as the backdrop for an engaging panel discussion featuring respected leaders from across the industry.

Conversations That Inspire Innovation

The morning centered around an insightful panel discussion exploring the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping today’s live events landscape. Attendees heard firsthand perspectives from industry experts as they shared their experiences, practical advice, and predictions for the future of events.

Guest Speakers
• Chef Christopher Tonti, Executive Chef, Thomas Preti Events to Savor
• Tommy Preti, Managing Director, Thomas Preti Events to Savor
• Sammie Paul, Executive Director, FoodRecovery.org

Moderator
• Lois Wilkins, Partner & Executive Producer, WSQ Productions

The discussion sparked thoughtful conversation among attendees, reinforcing one of ILEA’s core missions: fostering education, collaboration, and meaningful industry connections.

Breakfast Worth Waking Up For

No networking breakfast is complete without an exceptional menu, and our culinary team created a spread designed to be both approachable and elevated.

Guests enjoyed a thoughtfully curated breakfast featuring fresh seasonal pastries, vibrant fruit displays, artisan breakfast selections, premium coffee service, and chef-inspired morning favorites that encouraged guests to linger, connect, and start the day on a high note.

At Thomas Preti Events to Savor, we believe food should enhance every event experience—even before 9 a.m.—and breakfast gatherings offer the perfect opportunity to create memorable first impressions.

A Space Designed for Connection

The Altman Building’s historic architecture and flexible event space provided the ideal setting for both formal programming and casual networking. Before and after the panel, attendees had the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, meet new industry professionals, and continue conversations sparked during the discussion.

Events like the ILEA Breakfast remind us that our industry is built on relationships, creativity, and a willingness to continually learn from one another.

We are grateful to ILEA NY Metro for choosing The Altman Building as host venue and to everyone who joined us for a morning of education, inspiration, and community. We look forward to welcoming the events industry back again soon.

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At Thomas Preti, we believe great food should leave the lightest possible footprint, and we look to mission-driven brands like Patagonia Provisions for inspiration.

Patagonia Provisions was born from a bold vision: to produce delicious, nutritious foods that actively help heal the planet.

They embrace regenerative practices, (not just “sustainability”) by building soil health, restoring biodiversity, and reducing carbon footprints, rather than merely minimizing harm.

Here is how TPC is walking the talk:

Accountability & transparency: Just as Patagonia Provisions publishes impact data, we track our waste, sourcing, and recovery metrics so we can measure and improve.

Mindful sourcing: Wherever possible, we favor suppliers who prioritize regenerative, organic, or low-impact practices (echoing the ethos of Patagonia Provisions’ food lines).

Circular mindset: Recovering plastics with CleanHub is part of our effort to close the loop, preventing pollution at its source, just like Patagonia works to transform the food system from within.

Continuous improvement: We know we’re not perfect, but we aim to grow, just as Patagonia Provisions pushes standards upward for others to follow.

What’s next; and how you can help:

As we close in on 100% of our CleanHub goal, here’s how our community can be part of the progress:

• Choose sustainable, mission-aligned vendors and caterers.
• Ask questions in your supply chain: Where does it come from? How is it made? What happens after use?
• Help amplify brands doing good by supporting and celebrating them — that creates market pull for change.

We’re excited to align our brand with mission-driven companies like Patagonia Provisions; companies that don’t just talk about sustainability, but live it through regenerative agriculture, soil restoration, and rethinking the status quo. Together, we can raise the bar for what it means to do business responsibly. 💚

Thank you to our team, clients, and partners who made this 75% possible — let’s keep pushing toward 100%.

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At Thomas Preti, it’s no industry secret that we strive to produce the most sustainable events possible. When we pledged to put sustainability at the forefront of our business model, we vowed to move away from disposable, single-use items in favor of plates, glassware, and flatware that we can wash, store, and reuse continuously. With that mission, however, came the challenge of reimagining how we produce certain aspects of our event workflow.

Our first attempt at reusables was at a family event hosted by the Central Park Conservancy – one of our premier clients as well as an active partner and supporter in our sustainability initiative. In our best of intentions, we sent recycle bins to collect the reusable plates and cups after guest use. We placed these recycle bins on the floor, as opposed to in the back of house and learned very quickly that we missed the mark in a few areas. Without signage, guests had no way of knowing that the bins put on the floor to collect the reusables were not regular, run-of-the-mill trash cans. Our sanitation team ended up fishing through the recycle bins to separate the reusables from the rest of the waste generated at the event.

Thanks to the instant feedback of our event captains, the team got together back at the commissary kitchen to brainstorm ways to make the reusable process more streamlined for our event staff without impacting the guest experience.

We worked together to consider all the angles – ensuring that our client receives the refined, upscale look that Thomas Preti is renowned for, that our guests won’t need to think twice about how we bus their tableware, and setting our staff up for success by simplifying the process.

Going forward, we plan to take the guesswork out of the experience entirely. Our next reusables event will feature server-maintained stations that allow for guests to simply drop their tableware and continue to enjoy the party. Servers will collect plates, cups, and flatware and separate them into the appropriate bins, discreetly placed behind the drop tables. We will provide a bin for waste, a bin for liquids, and a bin for tableware, labeled clearly with tasteful signage.

We’re excited to see how this new approach works and hope it’s a successful stepping stone on the path to a more sustainable future of incredible events.

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For nonprofits, gala season is more than just a date on the calendar—it’s an opportunity to inspire, to connect, and to raise critical support for their missions. As expectations continue to rise, the pressure to “get it right” has never been greater. From programming and ambiance to cuisine and service, every element must come together seamlessly to honor the cause and engage guests on a deeper level.

At Thomas Preti Events to Savor, we understand that a successful gala doesn’t happen by chance—it’s the result of thoughtful planning, skilled execution, and the right partnerships. When every detail matters, our team delivers experiences that are not only memorable, but mission-driven.

A Celestial Night at the Parrish Art Museum

One standout moment this season was the Parrish Art Museum’s Midsummer Gala: Echoes of the Cosmos on July 19, 2025. On an evening that captured both imagination and generosity, Thomas Preti Events to Savor was honored to support the museum in raising nearly $1.4 million for exhibitions and educational programming.

The evening’s celestial theme was woven throughout every detail—Parsons Dance captivated guests with a gravity-defying performance, while live art installations offered moments of surprise and wonder. Our menu reflected the spirit of the night, culminating in a showstopping finale: a reimagined tiramisu, served in a custom-branded caviar tin. It was playful, elegant, and instantly beloved. Guests tucked them into their bags as souvenirs—some to be shared with weekend house guests, others simply too charming to leave behind.

The gala was featured in the New York Times article, “How to Host a Hamptons Gala for the Super Rich” (July 24, 2025), which spotlighted the event’s impeccable design, thoughtful details, and the art of creating experiences that resonate long after the final toast.

Purposeful Experiences at Every Gala

Whether at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Spring Gala at the Central Park Zoo, the United Way’s Grid Iron Gala at The Glasshouse, we approach every event with the same commitment to excellence. Our culinary storytelling, intuitive service, and program support are tailored to reflect the nonprofit’s unique mission.

Gala events are an investment in a nonprofit’s future. They’re a chance to not just raise funds—but to raise visibility, deepen relationships, and celebrate impact. The right event partner understands that.

At Thomas Preti Events to Savor, we don’t just cater events. We bring missions to life—with food, with feeling, and with finesse.

Whether you’re planning your first gala or looking to elevate an annual tradition, we’re here to help you get it right—beautifully, thoughtfully, and memorably.

Photo Credit: Parrish Art Museum, BFA, NYTimes

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In 2024, we formalized our PPCC Action Plan and kicked off a Pilot Program with strategies to target the driving contributors of food emissions. We’re proud to report over 22% reductions in our menu emissions year-over-year, a total savings of 188,252 kg CO2e and 2.4 kg CO2e per guest served at our events!

Read more about our progress in our Annual Emissions Report below:

The post Our Annual Carbon Impact Report first appeared on Thomas Preti Events to Savor.

One of our biggest goals this year was to further curtail single-use plastics in our company. Finding viable alternatives is an ongoing priority and we’re beyond proud to share that we…
• Launched a full line of “reusables” inventory, including food vessels, cutlery, and cupware, to use on events and internally
• Designed biodegradable snack bags created solely from plant byproducts
• Upgraded our bar program by transitioning to aluminum cans for water and soft drinks

Say Hello to the Water that Does More

We composted 8,802 pounds of food scraps in just the last four months! This fall, we partnered with Afterlife Mushrooms, a local indoor mushroom farm, who’s helping us conquer one of our top sustainability goals: expanding our composting program across our events throughout the city! With their help, we’re now supplying the compost to grow the beautiful and tasty mushrooms featured in our menus. A true circle of life story!

Creating a Circular Food System with Afterlife Mushrooms

Selected from hundreds of NYC-based food businesses, we proudly signed on as an inaugural signatory to New York City’s Plant-Powered Carbon Challenge and committed to reducing the carbon emissions from our menus by 25% by 2030. This initiative has empowered our Green Team with the support and resources to take our sustainability efforts to the next level.

Our 25% Carbon Cut: NYC’s Plant-Powered Carbon Challenge

Through our ongoing partnership with Billion Oyster Project, we recirculated 1,040 pounds of shells into NY Harbor, contributing to the restoration of over 122 million oysters in our local aquatic ecosystem. This effort helps filter our local waters by supporting a thriving oyster population, and by extension, other marine wildlife as well. In total, we’ve collected over 208,000 oyster shells from our events—always a crowd favorite!

A Drop in the (Blue) Bucket to Restore NY Harbor

For the second year, we reached our plastic-neutral goal by cleaning up 6,000 pounds of plastic pollution, ensuring proper recycling and preventing it from being openly burnt, dumped, or ending up in our oceans. Our cleanup efforts directly support the North Sulawesi community in northern Indonesia, one of the world’s most biodiverse marine environments and, sadly, one of the most impacted by plastic pollution. Two years ago, nearly 48% of non-recyclable waste in this community ended up in landfills. We are proud to say we’ve helped reduce that to roughly 3-7% in 2024!

World Oceans Day: Our Plastic Neutral Pledge!

At TPC, sustainability extends beyond reducing food waste and plastics. Our goal is to think creatively to create a completely circular event process. This year, we continued our partnership with Materials for the Arts, donating decor and other event materials to local students, art programs, and non-profits to reuse creatively in their artistic endeavors.

One Event’s Trash is Another’s Masterpiece

We also began a new partnership with RETI Center in Brooklyn, repurposing corks from our bars to create floating gardens along the NYC coastline. This initiative helps clean our waterways, reduces landfill waste, and creates safe habitats for wildlife to thrive.

From Wine to Water: Recycling our Corks with RETI Center

Our Green Team not only talks the talk, but we walk the walk by continuously educating ourselves, our clients, and our industry. Our website, our menus, and even our event contracts explain our commitment to these sustainability initiatives because for Preti, what we do is about so much more than catering. Keep an eye out for our upcoming Sustainability panels, events, and more in 2025!

The post 2024 Wrapped: Sustainability Edition first appeared on Thomas Preti Events to Savor.

Each of these events served as a powerful platform to raise awareness, inspire action, and make tangible progress toward a more sustainable future. We’re honored to have played a role in producing these meaningful gatherings and to align with partners who share our vision for a healthier planet!

Project InnerSpace showcased the future of clean energy at their Geothermal House event at Hall des Lumières, bringing together leading geothermal startups and industry experts. Attendees explored innovations through immersive experiences like the ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ VR tour and live programming, all celebrating the exciting potential of geothermal technology in the clean energy transition.

At Glasshouse Chelsea, Eco Act organized an exclusive Climate Week NYC event focused on the evolving landscape of voluntary carbon markets, complete with a fireside chat and climate reception. Industry leaders shared insights on regulatory updates, science-based strategies, and financing options, guiding participants on how to navigate carbon offsets for a more sustainable future.

Keep America Beautiful, the largest community improvement group in the US, hosted “The Power of Beauty” at Radio Park, celebrating their mission to inspire and educate communities across the country to create a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful environment for all. Their work plays a vital role in encouraging everyday actions that improve local surroundings.

As part of the United Nations General Assembly, Conservation International connected global leaders at the Central Park Zoo for an evening reception. Heads of State, Indigenous leaders and corporate executives alike gathered to discuss ambitious actions on biodiversity and celebrate key announcements about new financial commitments and the conservation of 30% of the planet by 2030.

Regeneration.VC hosted a two-day climate conference at Civic Hall to highlight the role of Consumer ClimateTech in reducing carbon footprints. Innovative startups and industry stakeholders came together together to present and explore effective strategies to build a greener future by embedding sustainable solutions in consumer value chains.

As part of the PIVOT2024 Catching Fire Conference Series, Project InnerSpace put on an immersive geothermal-themed event at Shift Midtown, offering attendees a glimpse into the cutting-edge world of geothermal energy. With VR experiences, lively discussions, and showcases of leading geothermal startups, it was a celebration of the promise of clean, renewable energy.

Last, but certainly not least, Best Friends Animal Society held their stunning “Save Them All” benefit at The Glasshouse, toasting 40 years of lifesaving and a brighter future for homeless pets. Okay, maybe it wasn’t exactly a “climate event” per se, but their heart-warming mission and completely vegan menu more than qualify for an emphatic shoutout!

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