The hard-working team at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
This is the first time the versatile venue has been named among the eight finalists in the Venue Team of the Year category at the AEO Excellence Awards.
The annual ceremony, which attracts nominations from organisers, venues and suppliers in the trade and consumer exhibition and events industry throughout the UK, will be held at Old Billingsgate in London on Friday, June 21.
The Ricoh Arena’s team has been shortlisted for their work behind the scenes during the Olympic Games Football Tournament – the only Midlands venue chosen for live London 2012 sporting action – as well as attracting one of the world’s biggest bands, Coldplay, and their exhibition and conference business throughout the year.
Liz Cooper, marketing director at the Ricoh Arena, said staff always went the extra mile for their clients whether it was in the business, entertainment or sporting environment.
“To be shortlisted for a national award is a reflection of the hard work and talent of every single member of the Ricoh Arena team,” she said.
“To secure high-profile events such as the Olympic Games and Coldplay requires a great deal of effort but we then ensure everyone who attends has a memorable visit to the Ricoh Arena with all the different departments working together as a team.
“Key staff worked 28 consecutive days during the build-up and throughout the Olympics which emphasises their commitment to the London 2012 experience, and we showed innovation and creativity with our hospitality packages as we sold 5,000 to an international audience for visitors ranging from Japan to Canada.
“We were chosen to host the first night of Coldplay’s 2012 UK summer tour which underlines the contacts we have built-up in the music industry and we sold 2,000 hospitality tickets which was a record for a one-night concert at the Ricoh.
“Our core business remains our exhibition and conference bookings and we helped clients grow their events here by being part of their team from the initial booking to the event day itself.
“The AEO Excellence Awards are designed to reward the achievements of the exhibition and events industry over the last 12 months and we are delighted to be a finalist in the Venue Team of the Year category with the excellent standards that our staff continue to deliver on a daily basis.”