Lessing's Hospitality Group

A six-generation family-owned and operated business, Lessing’s Hospitality Group, was established in 1890 with a primary focus on food service in New York City. Over time, the company expanded its offerings to include catering and event management across various venues, including restaurants, hotels, country clubs, and historic properties.

It guides customers to the perfect location for their requirements and budgetary considerations. At the same time, Lessing’s takes pride in tailoring menus, offering vendor recommendations, and assembling the ideal team to curate a special event.

Post-pandemic, client expectations from hospitality events and experiences have skyrocketed. An example is the wedding industry, where clients expect their ceremonies to be a distinct and standout experience.

Accompanied by a portfolio of 20 catering venues across the Northeastern U.S. and Florida, Lessing’s actively seeks distinctive and remarkable properties like barns, mansions, and facilities with scenic views of water and landmarks like the Jupiter Lighthouse to deliver truly unforgettable client experiences.

From a budgetary standpoint, Lessing’s accommodates customers by offering a range of options within vendor packages. The company collaborates with top-notch vendors like florists, DJs, photographers, and limo companies and curates packages that provide unparalleled value at affordable pricing. For additional customization, customers can upgrade specific services directly with the vendor, be it the photographer or florist, allowing for hyper-personalized touches.

“We don’t want to be cookie cutters. Our packages are customized based on what our clients want and the style of event they’re looking for, be it a corporate event or a wedding,” says Michael Lessing, CEO of Lessing’s Hospitality Group.

Beyond its event management and hospitality prowess, Lessing’s strongly emphasizes supporting the communities it serves. The company has partnered with organizations like Island Harvest in New York and Living Hunger in Florida. These groups enable it to address hunger-related issues within several communities. Lessing’s also conducts beach cleanups in the Great South Bay and other areas, collaborating with local markets to preserve the environment. Its team of seasoned professionals from the culinary, business management, and sales arenas often bring their families to these endeavors and organizes numerous events throughout the year to positively contribute to community-driven causes.

A familial approach to customers and team members lies at the core of Lessing’s success. It fosters camaraderie, loyalty, and mutual support among the staff, creating a positive work environment that translates into excellent customer service.

Due to the global disruption, Lessing’s postponed many weddings to September, October, and November of 2020. This proved particularly challenging in the New York market, where COVID-19 had hit the hardest. Strict government regulations limited gatherings to 50 people, with officials monitoring and imposing fines of $15,000 for non-compliance. Despite this, it could resume wedding operations quickly by closely working with customers and accommodating weddings with as few as 40 attendees, even if it meant operating without making a profit.

Before the COVID-19 crisis, it was fortunate to be in a solid financial position, enabling them to refund millions of dollars—a rarity in the hospitality industry, particularly in the New York market. This helped the company to listen to customers and deliver unmatched support to clients and vendors during the difficult time. In the post-pandemic era, Lessing’s was among the few companies that retained up to 75 percent of its engagements and experienced exponential growth in its customer base.

Lessing’s has solidified its reputation as an esteemed and outstanding provider within the competitive hospitality industry. Driven by its longevity and consistency, the company remains an exclusive caterer, offering distinctive services that leave a lasting impression on individuals, ensuring memorable experiences.