2016 Award Nominations – The Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards
Stadium Experience is pleased to announce the 2016 Award Nominations. 71 football and rugby clubs across the UK have been nominated for one or more awards in the Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards 2016. The awards, officially sponsored by Heineken, will take place at the Ricoh Arena, home to Premiership Rugby Club Wasps and Coventry City Football Club on Thursday 2nd June 2016. Around 350 guests will experience a fine dining four course menu, awards ceremony, followed by DJ and Las Vegas themed after party onsite at the Grosvenor Casino Coventry until 4am.
The prestigious event aims to recognise the efforts and dedication shown by the catering, conference and events teams at every football and rugby stadium across the UK. There will be a winner, silver and bronze award presented for 11 different award categories on the evening (a total of 33 awards up for grabs). This years award categories include:
Media Choice Award – Sponsored by Conference News
The Media Choice Award category is voted for by visiting local and national media. This audience is voting for a warm welcome, friendly service and top class food. There will be an overall gold, silver and bronze award for UK football and rugby stadia.
Non-Matchday Mystery Shopper Award – Sponsored by Hospitality Gem
The Non-Matchday Mystery Shopper Award category will be judged by Hospitality Gem in a mystery shopper style sales call.
Star For The Future Award – Sponsored by Sodexo Prestige
The Star For the Future Award category aims to recognise those individuals who shine daily and will one day be leading a team of their own. This may be someone at the start of their career, making great strides in their roles. This could be a Chef de Partie that would make a wonderful Head Chef, or a Sales Co-ordinator that is management material.
Operations Team of the Year Award – Sponsored by FC Business
The Operations Team of the Year Award aims to recognise the often unseen behind-the-scenes teams that make stadium events run so smoothly. Judges are looking for teams which go above and beyond the call of duty to provide the very best service to customers.
NEW for 2016 – Best Sales or Marketing Initiative Award – Sponsored by Stadia Connect
This award category aims to recognise the very best sales and marketing ideas created and introduced within any stadium team. Judges are specifically looking for brave new ideas which have led to increased support for stadium activities.
Chef Team of the Year Award – Sponsored by Stadium Experience
The Chef Team of the Year Award is judged as part of the live kitchen event at Hotelympia, ExCel Centre in London. Chefs teams had one hour to prepare, cook and present a three-course menu suitable for their Club Chairman to entertain the Head of the FA or RFU to dinner.
Directors Choice Award – Sponsored by Verteda
The Directors Choice Award category is voted for by Directors at each club. They are asked to nominate the club where they had the best away experience when travelling with their team. They are specifically asked to consider the welcome, service and catering when casting their votes.
Matchday Hospitality Award – Sponsored by Salon Culinaire
Reported by professional Salon Culinaire chef judges who experience hospitality at UK clubs this season using strict criteria. This is divided by size of hospitality offering with an award for:
Matchday Hospitality Award – Small Stadium (up to 1000 hospitality seats)
Matchday Hospitality Award – Medium Stadium (1001 – 2000 hospitality seats)
Matchday Hospitality Award – Large Stadium (2001+ hospitality seats)
Overall Matchday Hospitality Award – Sponsored by Salon Culinaire
This award pitches all sized clubs against all, to announce the overall winning UK stadium.
Stadium Experience Chair Person Collette Salmon is from Liverpool Football Club. She commented: “Our teams take it to the limits each year and this is a time to recognise all of them who strive to bring excellence in their venues across the UK. Congratulations and best of luck to all of this year’s award nominees – We look forward to announcing the results on 2nd June 2016!”
Find out more about the awards programme.
See more news about the 2016 Awards:
Awards Launch – 1st October 2015
Heineken announced as Headline Sponsor – 9th March 2016
Awards Results 2016 – 2nd June 2016
