Stadium Experience has announced the 81 football and rugby clubs across the UK nominated for awards in the Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards 2017.
The awards, sponsored by Carlsberg, will take place in the new main stand at Anfield, home to Liverpool Football Club on Thursday 1st June 2017.
Around 400 guests will experience a fine dining four course menu, awards ceremony, followed by onsite after party 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, meaning a potential 33 awards are up for grabs.
This year’s 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 HGEM
The Non-Matchday Mystery Shopper Award category will be judged by Hospitality Gem in a mystery shopper style sales call.
*NEW for 2017* Shining Star Award – Sponsored by Sodexo Prestige
The Shining Star Award category aims to recognise those individuals who are simply outstanding at what they do, and continuously shine. This may be someone at the start of their career, making great strides in their roles, or someone in a more senior role leading the way in excellence.
Operations Team of the Year Award – Sponsored by Tom Hewer Catering
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.
Best Sales or Marketing Initiative Award – Sponsored by CHS Group
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, NEC in Birmingham. 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 fcbusiness
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 Verteda
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, from Liverpool Football Club, commented: “Stadium teams work tirelessly, striving to bring excellence in their venues for both Matchday hospitality and non-matchday events.
“These awards aim to recognise and celebrate all of this hard work and commitment. Congratulations and best of luck to all of this year’s award nominees – We look forward to announcing the results here at Anfield on 1st June 2017!”
