Warriors walked away with the Visiting Directors award at Thursday night’s Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards at Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club’s Amex Stadium.
The award comes as specialist events and hospitality teams from football and rugby stadiums across the UK and Ireland celebrated their off-the-pitch successes at the awards dinner.
The Visiting Directors award category was voted for by Directors at each club. Directors from rugby clubs were asked to nominate the club where they had the best away experience when travelling with their team.
They were specifically asked to consider the welcome, service and catering when casting their votes.
Warriors Managing Director Gus Mackay said: “We’re delighted to have won this award. Credit and thanks must go to all the staff at the Club who have worked hard and fully deserve this accolade.”
The prestigious event, sponsored by Heineken, saw the 350 guests, who work in conference and events, matchday hospitality, chef teams, public catering, operational departments and senior management, experience a fine dining four course menu, awards ceremony and live entertainment, followed by an onsite after party until 4am.
The event was the 14th annual awards organised by Stadium Experience and recognised the efforts and dedication shown by the catering, conference and events teams at every football and rugby stadium across the UK and Ireland.
Seventy football and rugby clubs were nominated for awards, with 25 different stadium venues scooping at least one of 39 gongs (across 13 categories).
Some awards were entered by the club themselves and others by nominations from colleagues, media and visiting club Directors.
For 2018, there were four new categories and the introduction of a whole new panel of independent industry expert judges voting for the very best in the stadium venue industry.
This year’s judges included HGEM and Salon Culinaire, as well as the new panel of senior representatives from arrangeMY, Conference News, The Change Group, FC Business, HBAA, Meetings Industry Association and Venue Smart.
The overall winner of the awards evening was Hull City Tigers, who scooped the top gong for Overall Matchday Hospitality Experience 2018, fighting off tough competition from 32 participating stadiums across the leagues.