Shrimps honoured at national hospitality awards
MORECAMBE FC once again showed their Premiership qualities off the field by picking up a national award for its matchday hospitality service.
The Shrimps were one of only three clubs outside of the Premiership and Championship to pick up an honour at prestigious Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards 2015. The awards were the 11th annual awards recognising the efforts and dedication shown by the catering, conference and events teams at every football and rugby stadium across the UK.
Morecambe collected the silver medal in the Matchday Hospitality Award – Small Stadium Category. They came just behind rugby giants Saracens in the awards which is judged by professional chefs who experienced hospitality at UK clubs this season using strict criteria.
Mark Dixon, General Manager at Morecambe Football Club, said he was delighted with the accolade.
He said: "This is another fantastic award for the club and shows that once again the standard of our matchday hospitality is among the best in the country. The judging criteria and classifications have changed markedly over the last couple of years with the introduction of Rugby Clubs, so for us to be honoured in the up to 750 hospitality seats category, over 3 times our capacity, is a stunning achievement.
"Huge amounts of praise needs to go to our dedicated staff who provide an amazing quality of food, beverages and customer care for our supporters.
"We are all extremely proud to have come away with such an award.''
There were a total of 10 possible awards up for grabs. Some awards were entered by the club themselves and others by nominations from colleagues, media and other club directors. The overall winner of the evening was Hull City Tigers, who scooped the top gong for Overall Matchday Hospitality Experience 2015, fighting off tough competition from 25 stadia across the Leagues.
The full list of 2015 award winners includes:
Media Choice Award – Sponsored by Conference News
(Voted for by media attending matches across the UK)
WINNER – Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
SILVER – Aston Villa Football Club
BRONZE – Manchester City Football Club
Conference & Events Sales & Marketing Award - Sponsored by Hospitality Gem
(Judged by a mystery shopper style telephone call enquiry and follow up process)
WINNER – Hampden Park Stadium
SILVER – Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
BRONZE – Wycombe Wanderers Football Club
Star For The Future Award - Sponsored by The Football People
(Judged by panel of award sponsors and the Stadium Experience Awards committee)
WINNER – Anna Carmichael - Everton Football Club
SILVER – Emily Mills – Leeds United Football Club
BRONZE – Ollie Brown - Southampton Football Club
Operations Team of the Year Award - Sponsored by FC Business
(Judged by panel of award sponsors and the Stadium Experience Awards committee)
WINNER – Newcastle United Football Club
SILVER – Sunderland Association Football Club
BRONZE – Aston Villa Football Club
Chef Team of the Year – Sponsored by Stadium Experience
(A live kitchen event where chef teams are judged by professional chefs on producing the best VIP three-course meal)
WINNER – Chelsea Football Club
SILVER – Aston Villa Football Club
BRONZE – Southampton Football Club
Directors Choice Awards – Sponsored by Verteda
(Voted for by clubs board of directors when they visit an away match)
WINNER – Norwich City Football Club
SILVER – Arsenal Football Club
BRONZE – Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
Matchday Hospitality Awards – Sponsored by Salon Culinaire
(Reported by professional chef judges who experienced hospitality at UK clubs this season using strict criteria)
Matchday Hospitality Award - Small Stadium (up to 750 hospitality seats)
WINNER – Saracens Rugby Club
SILVER – Morecambe Football Club
BRONZE – Notts County Football Club
Matchday Hospitality Award – Medium Stadium (751 - 1500 hospitality seats)
WINNER – Hull City Tigers
SILVER – Bolton Wanderers Football Club
BRONZE – Leicester Tigers Rugby Club
Matchday Hospitality Award - Large Stadium (1501+ hospitality seats)
WINNER – Aston Villa Football Club
SILVER – Hampden Park Stadium
BRONZE – Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
The Big One - Overall Matchday Hospitality Award
WINNER – Hull City Tigers
SILVER – Aston Villa Football Club
BRONZE – Hampden Park Stadium
The award winning hospitality packages are available for all of Morecambe's home games, including the forthcoming pre season friendlies with Bury, Bolton and Blackpool.
For full details contact the club on 01524 411797.