Delaware North has been awarded a 20-year contract to operate catering and hospitality services at Ricoh Arena in Coventry, England. Included in the venue is a DoubleTree By Hilton hotel, which will also be operated by Delaware North — marking the company’s entry into the lodging business in the United Kingdom.
The new partnership gets underway July 14.
Home to Premiership Rugby’s Wasps, Wasps Netball and Coventry City Football Club, the venue hosts about 1.6 million visitors annually in more than 215,000 square feet of space that includes the Erickson Exhibition Hall, meeting rooms, two restaurants, a hotel and a casino (not operated by Delaware North).
“Ricoh Arena is an innovator in the world of business, entertainment and sports,” said Doug Tetley, managing director of Delaware North’s operating in the UK. “Delaware North is an innovator in hospitality and catering services. We have spent a considerable amount of time and effort looking at ‘What’s Next.’ …We’re in growth mode in the UK.”
Nick Eastwood, chief executive of Wasps Group, praised Delaware North while announcing the new partnership.
“This is a landmark deal for Wasps Group and the start of a long relationship with Delaware North, which has shown enormous confidence in both Ricoh Arena and the quality of the region’s staff,” he said.
“The company has an outstanding reputation for quality and service and works with some of the biggest venues in sport, leisure and business.”