VenuesLive secures major event and venue catering awards in two states

November 2, 2023

It was a night of celebration in two States for VenuesLive on Monday evening, with the company winning the catering industry’s most celebrated awards in both NSW and Western Australia.

After a year hosting some of Australia’s biggest sport and entertainment events at Accor Stadium and CommBank Stadium in Sydney and Optus Stadium in Perth, the VenuesLive catering teams scooped the award pools at separate, glittering functions.

On a night to remember at Le Montage Sydney, VenuesLive won three major catering awards at the Restaurant & Catering 2023 Awards For Excellence NSW:

Caterer Of The Year 2023: VenuesLive NSW - CommBank Stadium, Parramatta;
Venue Caterer of the Year: VenuesLive NSW - CommBank Stadium, Parramatta;
Events Caterer of the Year Sydney (over 200 guests): VenuesLive NSW - Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park.

On an equally rewarding night at the Catering Institute of Australia’s Gold Plate Awards at Optus Stadium in Perth, VenuesLive was inducted into the Restaurant & Catering Institute of WA’s Hall of Fame for Event Catering after having previously won the award for Best Venue Caterer three times.

VenuesLive WA Managing Director and Optus Stadium Chief Executive, Mike McKenna, received the Prix d'Honneur - recognising VenuesLive’s consistency with service levels and menu creations since opening in 2018.

VenuesLive Managing Director Daryl Kerry said his team felt “honoured and privileged” to be providing catering services at Optus Stadium on behalf of Venues West and at Accor Stadium and CommBank Stadium on behalf of Venues NSW - and to have received such glowing endorsement by the catering industry of Australia in two States.

Kerry advised “it is fantastic recognition for our catering team across NSW and WA and a great reward for all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes at our major venues and events.

“This is especially satisfying given our teams were responsible for delivering food and beverages to the highest level at FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 matches in Sydney and Perth, along with our other many sport and entertainment events.”

Kerry paid special tribute to Group General Manager Food and Beverage Craig Menzies and General Manager Catering (NSW) Mark Adler, Executive Chefs Jochen Beranek (WA) and Craig Veigel and their respective teams, and the Meetings & Special Events teams in two States.

Kerry also acknowledged the great influence that Australian food icon and VenuesLive Culinary Ambassador Matt Moran AM has had on the quality of food on offer at VenuesLive-catered venues, noting “it has been a great honour to have someone of Matt’s standing in the industry work so closely with us over the past two years. He is a giant in the hospitality industry and a truly remarkable man.”

Explaining that it was a very special honour for Optus Stadium to be inducted into the Hall of Fame after winning the Gold Plate award every year since 2019, McKenna added “congratulations to all the team who make Optus Stadium such an appealing venue for functions and events, across front-of-house, back-of-house and support departments to our leadership and casual teams.

“To collect the Prix d’Honneur, our service and food was judged multiple times, across multiple years and by many different judges - and every time in comparison to our competition we came out on top. This has been a total team effort.

“We are absolutely committed to elevating the event and venue industry in WA - the Dream State.”

Image: Members of the VenuesLive NSW team at Monday's awards.

31st October 2023 - New Eat From Your Seat delivery launches at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium

27th September 2023 - Optus Stadium reappoints KOJO as in-house sports production team

22nd September 2023 - Optus Stadium secures WWE premium live wrestling event

18th September 2023 - Demand for Matildas tickets sees Perth Olympic qualifier moved to Optus Stadium

15th September 2023 - Grandstand at Sydney’s Accor Stadium renamed in honour of Cathy Freeman

7th August 2023 - Perth’s Optus Stadium to host further State of Origin fixtures in 2025 and 2028

31st July 2023 - Optus Stadium unveils new collection of sport and entertainment memorabilia

24th July 2023 - Sydney’s Accor Stadium announced as host venue for 2023 NRL Grand Final

21st July 2023 - VenuesLive and Veolia collaboratie to install 460 new recycling bins at Perth’s Optus Stadium

4th July 2023 - Quayclean secures contract at Perth’s Optus Stadium

15th June 2023 - VenuesLive WA appoints new Head of Media and Government Relations

23rd May 2023 - WOSUP’s reusable aluminium cups to be trialled at upcoming Wallabies test at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium

24th March 2023 - Sydney’s Accor Stadium transitions from concert venue to sporting arena

22nd March 2023 - Changing rooms at Sydney’s Accor Stadium get major upgrade ahead of FIFA Women’s World Cup

7th February 2023 - 400,000 people expected at summer of major headline events at Sydney’s Accor Stadium

30th August 2022 - Celebrity chef Matt Moran named Culinary Ambassador at Sydney’s Accor Stadium and CommBank Stadium and Optus Stadium in Perth

6th July 2022 - VenuesLive commences naming rights partner search for Central Coast Stadium

12th February 2022 - VenuesLive selected as preferred operator of Central Coast Stadium

21st September 2021 - Bankwest Stadium gains new naming rights as part of CommBank investment in Western Sydney

10th September 2021 - VenuesLive steps up recruitment drive for Optus Stadium hospitality staff

21st July 2020 - VenuesLive flags permanent employment opportunities at ANZ, Bankwest and Optus Stadiums

30th October 2020 - McDonald Jones Stadium looks to grow reputation as the place where Newcastle celebrates

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