New venture launches in the capital

Sodexo Prestige Press releases

Austin TilsleyThe hospitality giant behind catering at the Open Championships and the Scottish food Oscars is to throw a memorable party of its own.

Sodexo Prestige will call on all of its event experience when it launches a new service, Prestige Venues & Events (PV&E), during a showpiece function at Edinburgh’s historic Assembly Rooms.

Some of the biggest movers and shakers of the events and conference industry are expected to attend and help celebrate the launch, which promises to bring new business to a range of renowned Scottish venues.

Austin Tilsley, regional director of Sodexo Prestige in Scotland, said: “It’s an exciting time for the company as we launch our new service which is eagerly awaited by the sector. What better way to mark the occasion than by doing what we do best and organising a truly memorably event with outstanding hospitality – only this time to entertain our clients and customers.

“The company has enjoyed success across the UK, while in Scotland we have seen particularly healthy period of growth in the conference and events market. We are determined to keep up that impetus and to do that we need to keep innovating.

“The launch of Prestige Venue & Events comes after extensive research and consultation with the venues we work with and the booking agents who are the engine room of the sector.  Of course we also sought the opinions and input of customers, who simply want to know their conference or event will be a success.

“As a result we have created an  new product which will benefit all of those groups. We have taken what can be a complex process and instead made it incredibly simple to find and book a venue for any type of event.”

PRESTIGE VENUES & EVENTS

Prestige Venues & Events is the new premium service offer of Sodexo Prestige, Sodexo Sports, Leisure and Travel Divison. It covers more than 50 outstanding venues across the UK from the Churchill War Rooms to Ascot Racecourse. In Scotland venues include Hampden Park, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and The Assembly Rooms.

While the venues are widely varied and each offer bespoke catering and event packages, they are underpinned by the expert team of Sodexo Prestige chefs and all focus on using sustainable and locally sourced produce wherever possible.

The launch night will showcase the quality guests can expect when booking a conference or event with Sodexo prestige and guests will be treated to blind tasting sessions from Sodexo Prestige’s award-winning chefs.

Managing director, Chris John and Scottish regional director, Austin Tilsley will both give short presentations to explain the venture in greater depth and what customer service enhancements booking agents can expect.

LAUNCH NIGHT

Amanda Brown, Sodexo Prestige’s national account director in Scotland, said: “The launch itself will be a night of glitz and gourmet experiences.

“It’s a real chance for us to show everyone what makes our service different from other catering and hospitality companies and why our innovative menus and chefs behind them make our business an industry leader.

“It also gives us a fantastic platform to explain exactly what our new offer is about and showcase the exceptional customer service and catering we provide.

“By offering a more appealing service to customers throughout the UK, it is likely to translate into extra business for the venues we work with helping strengthen an already extensive portfolio of top UK venues.”

As well as classy new branding, the centrepiece of PV&E is a state-of-the-art,  interactive website with a host of built-in tools which makes it incredibly easy to find a venue, from a secluded castle to an executive box at a Premier League football club. The service also includes a dedicated central team available online or by phone from an enquiry hub to answer queries and provide real-time advice.

The new service is based at South Queensferry near Edinburgh and during a trial in 2013 it generated an additional £1million revenue for Scottish venues.

The launch night kicks off at 6pm on Thursday, March 27 and promises a night of interactive dining, expert keynote speeches and networking.