EVENT AWARDS SHORTLIST

VENUE TEAM OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST

Hard-working staff at the Ricoh Arena who oversaw nearly 650 events in 2014 ranging from rugby matches to railway modelling shows have been nominated for a UK-wide award.

The Ricoh has been shortlisted in the Venue Team category at the Event Awards 2015 which will be held at Eventim Apollo in London on Wednesday, October 14 when over 20 awards will be presented.

The venue will be competing against London-based 8 Northumberland Avenue, The Brewery, Troxy and the London Legacy Development Corporation as well as the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre for the accolade.

An impressive 634 events were managed by staff throughout the Ricoh Arena in the Jaguar Exhibition Hall, Halls 3-5, the E.ON Lounge and Club Jaguar last year.

From February to December 2014, 115,172 delegates – an average of 10,470 per month – attended a wide variety of conferences, exhibitions and shows including Costa Coffee’s annual conference, the British Tarantula Society’s exhibition when over 50,000 spiders, scorpions and other insects were on display, and the railway modelling show RMWeb Live.

Wasps’ confirmation that the rugby club had acquired 100 per cent of the Ricoh Arena’s shares last November led to the club’s match day attendances tripling and hospitality increasing by over 500% while conference and exhibition business turnover increased by 50% in the first four months under its control.

Andy Gibb, managing director of the Ricoh Arena, said the shortlisting was fully deserved for staff in all departments who worked together to ensure guests had a memorable visit.

“We are the only Midlands venue to be nominated in the Venue Team category of the Event Awards 2015 which is a tremendous reflection on the professionalism and hard work of every member of staff,” he said.

“We continue to attract a varied mix of business, sport and entertainment and to have increased from 516 events in 2013 to 634 last year is outstanding.

“We also secured 21 new shows thanks to the efforts of the sales team which raised our profile in new sectors since we hosted three Insomnia gaming festivals for the UK’s biggest gaming festival, Europe’s largest alpaca show and the British Gymnastics Spring Event Series.

“Our versatility was emphasised when we held seven events during one weekend including a Wasps rugby fixture, Coventry City match and SPATEX exhibition for the pool and spa industry.

“2014 was a landmark year after the Ricoh Arena was acquired by Wasps which has led to the venue team retaining and adding to our commercial partners and corporate clients.

“We finished the year on a high since the Champion of Champions snooker tournament returned for a second successive year and our Christmas party bookings rose by an amazing 77 per cent to 7,632.

“Staff at the Ricoh also showed their caring side by taking part in various fundraising challenges including being part of raising £36,000 in the On Your Bike challenge to help the Memusi Foundation build a secondary school in Kenya with fundraisers cycling for 24 hours non-stop in the E.ON Lounge.

“I am really pleased everyone’s efforts have been rewarded with this shortlisting for this prestigious national award.”