Annual Dinner Catering in KL: Menu Ideas and the Real Cost per Pax (2026)
What a company annual dinner in KL and Selangor actually costs per person, from published hotel packages to hiring a hall and bringing a caterer, plus a food menu list for buffet, Western and Chinese banquet formats.
By Seow Lin · 27 September 2026 · 7 min read
A company annual dinner in KL costs roughly RM90 to RM259 per person at hotels that publish their packages, around RM92 to RM107 if you hire an event hall and bring a caterer for 100 staff, and RM32 to RM47 if you hold it in the office. The food is the biggest line either way, so the format you pick matters more than the venue's star rating.
Most annual dinner cost guides online are written by event agencies and give ranges without naming a single venue. This one uses prices that hotels, venues and caterers have published themselves, so you can check every number and ask for the same deal.
Hotel and venue prices were collected from their own websites and from the instaSpace venue marketplace on 28 September 2026. Caterer prices come from the GatherPlate catering price index, edition September 2026, which covers published prices from 21 caterers in KL and Selangor. Confirm current rates before you book.
Annual dinner cost per person: three ways to do it
- Hotel package: RM90 to RM259 per person nett at the two hotels we found that publish annual dinner prices. Venue, food, service staff and basic sound are included.
- Event hall plus caterer: a hall from RM6,000 plus a caterer buffet at RM32 to RM45 per person. For 100 guests that is RM9,200 to RM10,500 before delivery, or about RM92 to RM107 per person.
- Office or your own premises: caterer only, RM32 to RM45 per person for a buffet, plus delivery of RM30 to RM200.
For comparison, event agency guides quote RM150 to RM250 per person for a hotel ballroom package in the Klang Valley, without naming the hotels. Those figures usually include entertainment, décor and emcee costs on top of the food.
Hotel annual dinner packages with published prices
- Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur (Grand Celebration package): RM2,088 nett per table of 10 for an international buffet (RM208.80 per person), RM2,388 for a Western set (RM238.80) and RM2,588 for a Chinese set (RM258.80). Includes 2 LED screens, a basic PA system, free-flow cordial and Chinese tea, waived corkage and 3 VIP parking passes. Buy 30 tables and get 1 free. The offer is listed as valid until 31 October 2026, so ask whether a December date gets the same rate.
- St Giles Boulevard, Kuala Lumpur (Private Dinner Package): from RM90 nett per person, minimum 50 guests, with a customised menu, a decorated venue and service staff. Menu details must be final 10 days before the event.
We also checked Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur, M World Hotel, One World Hotel, Dorsett Grand Subang and RED by Sirocco. None of them publishes an annual dinner price. They quote on request, so expect to compare quotations rather than websites.
Check whether a hotel price is nett or "++". A price with ++ adds the hotel's service charge, usually 10%, and service tax, which is 6% on food and beverage. RM150++ per person ends up around RM175 once both are added.
Hiring an event hall and bringing your own caterer
Event spaces rent the room and let you choose the food. Venue-only day rates listed on instaSpace for Kuala Lumpur, with the maximum capacity each one lists:
- Rustic Hall: RM3,600 per day, up to 200 guests.
- GM Hall: RM8,000 per day, up to 400 guests.
- The One Hall (L), KLCC: RM8,200 per day, up to 500 guests.
- Cornerstone: RM10,000 per day, up to 300 guests.
- Slate at The Row: RM11,000 per day, up to 400 guests.
- REXKL: RM12,000 per day, up to 1,500 guests.
- Grand Sky Ballroom, RED by Sirocco: RM15,000 per day (minimum 4 hours), up to 270 guests banquet style.
In Selangor, RUANG Shah Alam lists halls from RM6,000 with air conditioning, tables and chairs, a projector, a PA system and a stage, and its hall rental lets you bring your own caterer. Always ask what the day rate includes: some halls quote the empty room, and tables, sound and cleaning cost extra.
The venue fee is fixed, so this route gets cheaper per person as your headcount grows. A RM6,000 hall with a RM45 buffet works out at RM105 per person for 100 guests, but RM75 per person for 200.
What a caterer charges for an annual dinner
- Buffet: typically RM45 per person. Entry menus sit around RM32, and half of the caterers we track price their typical buffet between RM41 and RM65.
- Minimum order: 10 of 15 caterers with published minimums accept 50 guests or fewer for a buffet, so headcount is rarely a problem for an annual dinner.
- Delivery: published charges run from RM30 to RM200, rising with distance.
- Deposit: 50% is most common. Some ask for 70% or full payment.
- Notice: 3 to 7 days is typical, but that is for an ordinary week. Book December dates as early as you can.
See the full breakdown in our catering price index, or compare full-service catering packages with prices shown upfront.
Annual dinner food menu list
Pick the format first, then the dishes. These are the three formats in the Berjaya Times Square package above, and what each one usually contains.
Buffet (easiest for mixed teams)
- Rice: nasi minyak, nasi briyani or plain white rice
- Two meat mains, for example chicken and beef or lamb
- One fish or seafood dish
- One vegetable dish
- Noodles or pasta
- Dessert: kuih, cake or bread pudding, plus cut fruit
- Two drinks, such as iced lemon tea and coffee or teh tarik
Western set (3 courses)
- Starter: soup or salad
- Main: chicken, beef or fish with sides, with a vegetarian option
- Dessert: plated cake or panna cotta, with coffee or tea
Chinese banquet (8 courses per table of 10)
- Cold dish combination platter
- Soup
- Chicken
- Steamed or fried fish
- Prawns
- Seasonal vegetables
- Fried rice or noodles
- Dessert
Want something people will talk about? Add one live station, such as satay grilled on site or a lok lok cart. Our guide to how many satay and lok lok sticks per person helps you order the right quantity.
Halal and dietary needs for mixed teams
If any of your staff are Muslim, choose a caterer or hotel kitchen with a valid halal certificate, not just a pork-free menu. The difference is explained in our guide to no pork no lard vs halal, and you can check a caterer's halal certificate yourself in a few minutes. Ask your team about vegetarian and allergy needs when you collect RSVPs, not the week before.
Example budget: annual dinner for 100 staff
- Office, caterer buffet: 100 x RM32 to RM45 = RM3,200 to RM4,500, plus delivery.
- Event hall plus caterer: RM6,000 + RM3,200 to RM4,500 = RM9,200 to RM10,500, plus delivery.
- Hotel, from RM90 nett per person: RM9,000 for 100 guests (St Giles Boulevard's starting price).
- Hotel, international buffet per table: 10 tables x RM2,088 = RM20,880 (Berjaya Times Square).
None of these include entertainment, lucky draw prizes, décor or an emcee. Add those separately, and keep in mind that at a hotel the sound system and screens may already be in the package.
When to start planning
In Google Trends data for Malaysia over the last 12 months, searches for "annual dinner" peaked in the week of 30 November to 6 December 2025. That is when most companies are choosing venues and menus, and when popular Friday and Saturday dates go. If you want a December date, compare quotations in October and confirm your headcount at least two weeks before the dinner.
Sources, checked 28 September 2026: Berjaya Times Square Hotel Grand Celebration package page; St Giles Boulevard Private Dinner Package page; venue listings on instaSpace; RUANG Event Space promotions page; Savvy Travel's annual dinner cost guide for the agency range ([savvytravel.com.my](https://www.savvytravel.com.my/company-annual-dinner-ideas-costs/)); the GatherPlate catering price index, edition September 2026; Google Trends, Malaysia, past 12 months. GatherPlate is a catering marketplace and does not sell hotel or venue packages. No venue paid to be included.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an annual dinner cost per person in Malaysia?
In KL, hotels that publish their packages charge from RM90 to about RM259 per person nett. Hiring a hall and bringing a caterer costs around RM92 to RM107 per person for 100 guests, and an office dinner with a caterer buffet costs RM32 to RM45 per person plus delivery.
What food should we serve at a company annual dinner?
A buffet is easiest for mixed teams: rice, two meat mains, a fish or seafood dish, vegetables, noodles or pasta, dessert, fruit and two drinks. Hotels also offer Western 3-course sets and Chinese 8-course banquets served per table of 10.
Is it cheaper to hold the annual dinner in the office?
Yes, often by half or more. With no venue fee, a caterer buffet for 100 staff costs RM3,200 to RM4,500 plus delivery, against about RM9,000 or more at a hotel.
What does ++ mean on an annual dinner quotation?
It means service charge and service tax are not yet included. Hotels usually add a 10% service charge and 6% service tax on food and beverage, so RM150++ per person comes to around RM175.
How early should we book an annual dinner?
Searches for annual dinners in Malaysia peak in early December, so compare quotations in October if you want a December Friday or Saturday. Caterers often need only 3 to 7 days' notice in an ordinary week, but busy dates fill first.
