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GlossaryUpdated

Hosted bar

At an event, a hosted bar is a bar the host pays for, so guests drink free. It's another name for an open bar, billed by package or by consumption.

Also called: host bar

Hosted bar vs open bar

Venues use the two names for the same thing. Hosted bar is common on hotel and catering paperwork; open bar is what guests say.

How is a hosted bar billed?

Either as a package, a set price per guest per hour, or on consumption, where the host pays for each drink poured, often up to a cap. The BEO says which applies and when the bar closes.

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