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Stadium Experience is pleased to announce that the 2018 Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards will be hosted at the American Express Community Stadium, home of premiership football team, Brighton & Hove Albion FC. 

 

The awards will take place in the 1901 club Mayo Wynne Baxter Lounge on Thursday 31st May 2018. Around 400 guests will be welcomed to experience a four course menu, awards ceremony, followed by DJ and live band.

 

The Amex Stadium features ten lounges, 21 hospitality boxes, and five concourses. The stadium can host up to 450 guests for a dinner or conference and all the lounges boast natural daylight and stunning views of the pitch or the beautiful South Downs. Featuring fantastic road links, a train station on site and with free parking for over 600 cars, it is one of Sussex’s premier event venues.

The Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards aim to recognise and reward the efforts and dedication shown by the catering, conference and events teams at every football and rugby stadium across the UK and Ireland. For 2018, there are four brand new categories, and a whole new panel of independent industry expert judges ready to recognise the very best in the industry. This year’s independent judges include HGEM and Salon Culinaire, as well as a new panel of senior industry expert judges from arrangeMY, Conference News, Core Recruitment, fcbusiness, HBAA, Meetings Industry Association and Venue Smart.

 

The 2018 awards are now officially open for entry, with a total of 13 possible awards up for grabs (Winner, Silver & Bronze available in each category). Categories include:

 

*NEW* Visiting Directors Award – Football (Voted for by visiting directors)

 

*NEW* Visiting Directors – Rugby (Voted for by visiting directors)

 

Chef Team of the Year Award (Judged by Salon Culinaire)

 

Non-Matchday Mystery Shopper Award (Judged by HGEM)

 

*NEW* Best Digital Enquiry Award (Judged by HGEM)                                        

 

Shining Star Award (Judged by new panel of industry experts)

 

Operations Team of the Year Award (Judged by new panel of industry experts)          

 

Best Sales or Marketing Initiative Award (Judged by new panel of industry experts)

 

*NEW* Best Stadium Venue Award (Judged by new panel of industry experts)

 

Matchday Hospitality Award – Small (up to 1000 hospitality seats) (Judged by Salon Culinaire)

 

Matchday Hospitality Award – Medium (1001 – 2000 hospitality seats) (Judged by Salon Culinaire)

 

Matchday Hospitality Award – Large (2001+ hospitality seats) (Judged by Salon Culinaire)

 

The Big One – Overall Matchday Hospitality Award (Judged by Salon Culinaire)

 

Albion Chief Executive Paul Barber said: “We are absolutely delighted to host such a prestigious awards ceremony here at our stadium.  A lot of work has been carried out at our stadium over the summer to improve our already fantastic facilities in time for our first Premier League season. This event represents another great opportunity to showcase the tremendous work that our project team have undertaken.

 

“A lot of credit also goes to our catering partner, Sodexo, who managed to beat stiff competition to host the event, and our working relationship remains as strong as ever.
 

“Historically the club has performed very well at the awards too, and hopefully we will be able to continue this success at the 2018 ceremony.”

 

Chris Bray, CEO (Sports and Leisure UK&I, Global Aviation) for Sodexo, the catering partner at the Amex Community Stadium, commented: “It is brilliant to hear that the Amex Community Stadium has been chosen as the host venue for the forthcoming Stadium Experience Awards 2018 and it adds another great win for our team at the home of Brighton & Hove Albion.  

 

“It will be a great opportunity for us to showcase our experience of hosting events and celebrate the success of all those stadia shortlisted for these prestigious awards. Sodexo have won many Stadium Experience Awards in the past and what better way to share our expertise than by hosting this great occasion. We look forward to greeting all the finalists and I know they will be impressed by the exceptional design and facilities at the Amex. 

 

“This is a great time to be at the stadium following the teams promotion to the premier league. I know the on-site teams both from the Sodexo and the Football Club will make this an event to remember.”

 

Collette Salmon, Sales Manager at Liverpool FC and voluntary Chair of Stadium Experience, said: “Every year I am surprised with the commitment shown from all our members to bring Stadiums to their fullest potential, so they can to match the high expectations of the ever changing customers and their requirements. I am looking forward to celebrating the amazing hard-work that goes on behind-the-scenes in stadium venues in Brighton for 2018.  These will be the 14th annual awards organised by Stadium Experience, which continues to grow bigger and better every year.”

 

More information is available online at – www.stadiumexperience.com/awards/2018. Stadium Experience is also keen to explore awards sponsorship opportunities with companies who would like to get involved.

 

For further information, please contact:  Debbie Rigney, Marketing & PR Manager, Stadium Experience  office@stadiumexperience.com or 0345 226 5494.