Predictika · Convention catering quotes

An AI sales agent's banquet food and beverage quote, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a banquet food and beverage quote for a group meeting: guest count, meal and price a person, bars and the staff that run them, and the guarantee. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published banquet charges and policies and returns a verdict, every reason, a line-item quote and the figures it computed.

Scope: Banquet food and beverage quotes for MGM Grand events: per-person meal prices, the service charge, the administrative fee and its tax, bar staffing and the guarantee deadline. See everything this validator covers

This validator models banquet food and beverage charges for a group event as set out in the MGM Grand Events & Convention Services Policies & Procedures document (version V12.25, read October 5, 2026), not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Meal prices — the published per-person ranges ($40 to $52 continental breakfast, $64 to $83 lunch, $110 to $170 dinner) are checked against the price quoted, and plated lunches and dinners need at least three courses.
  • Charges — a 19% service charge (not taxable) and a 6% administrative fee taxed at 8.375% are added to the food and beverage price, then bartender, cashier and attendant fees of $350 each, into a line-item quote compared with the total the agent states.
  • Staffing and timing — 1 bartender per 100 guests, 1 cashier per 150 guests for a cash bar, a $750 minimum revenue per cash bar, and a guarantee due 72 business hours before the function. Prices outside the published range, a cash bar below its minimum and a late guarantee go to a person.

Any MGM Grand banquet food and beverage quote that touches these charges is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: room blocks, attrition, negotiated rates, meeting space, audio-visual, menu item prices (only the published per-person ranges are used), other labor and room-change fees, other properties and tax on staffing fees. Assumptions: the service charge and administrative fee apply to food and beverage only and not to the staffing fees; the tax on the administrative fee is rounded to the nearest cent; staffing ratios are treated as minimums rounded up to whole people; the cashier ratio applies to cash bars only.

The AI sales agentBuilds the banquet quote from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Stacked charges: a 19% service charge that is not taxed plus a 6% fee that isOnly with care
Each charge is its own price rule and the tax applies to only one of them, so rounding and ordering differences between rules are common.		All charges are computed together to the cent and compared with the total the agent states.
Staffing that scales with the guest count (1 bartender per 100 guests, 1 cashier per 150)Only with care
A round-up formula per role that has to be kept in step with the guest count; it is easy to change the guests and leave the staff stale.		Required staff is computed from the guest count on every call and compared with what the quote books.
A minimum that scales with the number of barsOnly with care
The $750 cash bar minimum multiplies by the bar count and is compared with an expected revenue on a different line.		Bars, revenue and the minimum are in one request and checked together.
A deadline that changes who bears the chargeOnly with workarounds
A timing rule usually fires at a workflow step, so a late guarantee can surface after the quote has gone out.		The guarantee timing is in the same request and raises an approval finding in the same pass.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the quote is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1A price of $39 a person is outside the published range of $40 to $52 for this meal; a person should confirm it.
2A price of $53 a person is outside the published range of $40 to $52 for this meal; a person should confirm it.
3A price of $63 a person is outside the published range of $64 to $83 for this meal; a person should confirm it.
4A price of $84 a person is outside the published range of $64 to $83 for this meal; a person should confirm it.
5A price of $109 a person is outside the published range of $110 to $170 for this meal; a person should confirm it.
6A price of $171 a person is outside the published range of $110 to $170 for this meal; a person should confirm it.
7The quote has 0 guests; at least 1 is needed.
8A plated meal with 2 courses is below the published minimum of three courses for plated lunches and dinners.
9A plated meal with 1 course is below the published minimum of three courses for plated lunches and dinners.
10The quote books 1 bartender for 101 guests; the published staffing is 1 bartender per 100 guests, which needs 2.
11The quote books 0 bartenders for 150 guests; the published staffing is 1 bartender per 100 guests, which needs 2.
12The quote books 1 cashier for a cash bar with 151 guests; the published staffing is 1 cashier per 150 guests, which needs 2.
13The expected cash bar revenue of $749 is below the published minimum of $750 ($750 per bar); a person should confirm how the shortfall is handled.
14The expected cash bar revenue of $1,499 is below the published minimum of $1,500 ($750 per bar); a person should confirm how the shortfall is handled.
15The guarantee is given 71 business hours before the function; the published deadline is 72 business hours, and a late guarantee is charged at the greater of the expected number on the event order or the number served; a person should confirm it.
16The quote states a total of $13,877.75; the published charges give $13,877.76.
17The quote states a total of $13,877.77; the published charges give $13,877.76.
18The quote states a total of $13,182.76; the published charges give $13,177.76.
19The guarantee is given 48 business hours before the function; the published deadline is 72 business hours, and a late guarantee is charged at the greater of the expected number on the event order or the number served; a person should confirm it.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Plated lunch with a bar: Plated lunch with two courses, too few bartenders and a total that leaves out staffing

    
The agent's request. Please quote the banquet food and beverage for Larkfield Analytics (sales meeting): 300 guests, a plated lunch at $75 a person with 2 courses, 2 host bars with 2 bartenders, and 2 attendant stations. The guarantee will be given 96 business hours before the function. The quote states a total of $28,238.06. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Plated meal under three courses. A plated meal with 2 courses is below the published minimum of three courses for plated lunches and dinners.
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  • Too few bartenders. The quote books 2 bartenders for 300 guests; the published staffing is 1 bartender per 100 guests, which needs 3.
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  • Stated total does not match. The quote states a total of $28,238.06; the published charges give $29,638.06.
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2. Plated lunch with a bar: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote the banquet food and beverage for Larkfield Analytics (sales meeting): 300 guests, a plated lunch at $75 a person with 3 courses, 2 host bars with 3 bartenders, and 2 attendant stations. The guarantee will be given 96 business hours before the function. The quote states a total of $29,988.06. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 300 guests at $75 a person; food and beverage $22,500.00, service charge $4,275.00, administrative fee $1,350.00, tax on the administrative fee $113.06, staffing $1,750.00, estimated total of $29,988.06.
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3. Cash bar dinner: Plated cash bar dinner with too few cashiers, low bar revenue and a late guarantee

    
The agent's request. Please quote the banquet food and beverage for Northvale Health Partners (gala dinner): 400 guests, a plated dinner at $150 a person with 3 courses, 3 cash bars with 4 bartenders, 2 cashiers and expected cash bar revenue of $2,000, and 2 attendant stations. The guarantee will be given 60 business hours before the function. The quote states a total of $77,401.50. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Too few cashiers for the cash bar. The quote books 2 cashiers for a cash bar with 400 guests; the published staffing is 1 cashier per 150 guests, which needs 3.
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  • Stated total does not match. The quote states a total of $77,401.50; the published charges give $78,101.50.
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  • Cash bar below the minimum revenue. The expected cash bar revenue of $2,000 is below the published minimum of $2,250 ($750 per bar); a person should confirm how the shortfall is handled.
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  • Late guarantee. The guarantee is given 60 business hours before the function; the published deadline is 72 business hours, and a late guarantee is charged at the greater of the expected number on the event order or the number served; a person should confirm it.
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4. Cash bar dinner: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote the banquet food and beverage for Northvale Health Partners (gala dinner): 400 guests, a plated dinner at $150 a person with 3 courses, 3 cash bars with 4 bartenders, 3 cashiers and expected cash bar revenue of $2,000, and 2 attendant stations. The guarantee will be given 60 business hours before the function. The quote states a total of $78,451.50. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Cash bar below the minimum revenue. The expected cash bar revenue of $2,000 is below the published minimum of $2,250 ($750 per bar); a person should confirm how the shortfall is handled.
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  • Late guarantee. The guarantee is given 60 business hours before the function; the published deadline is 72 business hours, and a late guarantee is charged at the greater of the expected number on the event order or the number served; a person should confirm it.
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  • Order summary. 400 guests at $150 a person; food and beverage $60,000.00, service charge $11,400.00, administrative fee $3,600.00, tax on the administrative fee $301.50, staffing $3,150.00, estimated total of $78,451.50.
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5. Cash bar dinner: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote the banquet food and beverage for Northvale Health Partners (gala dinner): 400 guests, a plated dinner at $150 a person with 3 courses, 3 cash bars with 4 bartenders, 3 cashiers and expected cash bar revenue of $2,250, and 2 attendant stations. The guarantee will be given 96 business hours before the function. The quote states a total of $78,451.50. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 400 guests at $150 a person; food and beverage $60,000.00, service charge $11,400.00, administrative fee $3,600.00, tax on the administrative fee $301.50, staffing $3,150.00, estimated total of $78,451.50.
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6. Buffet dinner at the top of the range: Buffet dinner priced above the published range with too few bartenders

    
The agent's request. Please quote the banquet food and beverage for Brightwater Logistics (awards dinner): 250 guests, a buffet dinner at $175 a person, 1 host bar with 2 bartenders, and 3 attendant stations. The guarantee will be given 96 business hours before the function. The quote states a total of $55,438.56. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Too few bartenders. The quote books 2 bartenders for 250 guests; the published staffing is 1 bartender per 100 guests, which needs 3.
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  • Stated total does not match. The quote states a total of $55,438.56; the published charges give $56,657.34.
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  • Price outside the published range. A price of $175 a person is outside the published range of $110 to $170 for this meal; a person should confirm it.
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7. Buffet dinner at the top of the range: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote the banquet food and beverage for Brightwater Logistics (awards dinner): 250 guests, a buffet dinner at $170 a person, 1 host bar with 3 bartenders, and 3 attendant stations. The guarantee will be given 96 business hours before the function. The quote states a total of $55,438.56. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 250 guests at $170 a person; food and beverage $42,500.00, service charge $8,075.00, administrative fee $2,550.00, tax on the administrative fee $213.56, staffing $2,100.00, estimated total of $55,438.56.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a banquet food and beverage quote for a group meeting: guest count, meal and price a person, bars and the staff that run them, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published banquet charges and policies and returns a verdict, every reason, a line-item quote and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote the banquet food and beverage for Larkfield Analytics (sales meeting): 300 guests, a plated lunch at $75 a person with 2 courses. The guarantee will be given 96 business hours before the function. The rest of the request is on screen. The quote states a total of $28,238.06.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with three findings, all in one answer. A plated meal with 2 courses is below the published minimum of three courses for plated lunches and dinners. The quote books 2 bartenders for 300 guests; the published staffing is 1 bartender per 100 guests, which needs 3. The quote states a total of $28,238.06; the published charges give $29,638.06.
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  6. The validator returned three blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other and against the stated total.
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  7. What this shows: for staffing that scales with the guest count (1 bartender per 100 guests, 1 cashier per 150), a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the courses to 3, the bartenders to 3 and the stated total to $29,988.06.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. This time the validator clears it.
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  12. The validator also returns the line-item quote. It starts with Lunch and Service charge; the other four lines are on screen.
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  13. All three earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's total, $29,988.06, matches the quote.
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  14. Three problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean $29,988.06 quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    15.