University of Leicester Conference venue receives new accolade

College Court win at Niche Business Awards follows East Midlands Chamber of Commerce Award last week

The University of Leicester’s conference and training venue College Court has taken pride of place in a prestigious local awards dinner.

It is the winner of the ‘Professional Services’ category at the Niche Business Awards organised by Niche Magazine, a Leicestershire publication presenting some of the very best of what the county has to offer.

The award recognises those that provide excellent facilities, outstanding collaborations and the best staff training as well as individuals or teams who have made positive contributions to the business and local community.

The £17.5million facility has already won a clutch of awards and was last week announced as the Winner of the Business Improvement through Technology and Finalist for Excellence in Customer Service categories at the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce Awards dinner.

College Court Director Steve Crawford said: “Our success is down to a team effort so a huge thank you to all who work at College Court. As we head toward our 3rd Anniversary I am sure that we can look forward to future success and indeed the need to buy a bigger trophy cabinet!

“We are a truly passionate team who strive for excellence every day, whether it be process, procedure, setting and achieving goals, hitting budgets, hitting top line sales targets, delivering that perfect buffet lunch or reserving a car space, this award will be an opportunity to thank those staff for all that they do.”

Since opening in October 2013 College Court has generated sales of £6.5 million. With the combined offer of College Court, Stamford Court and the broader portfolio, annual sales for the next financial year will be in excess of £4.5 million. All profits feed directly into the University.

In just a short time, College Court has developed a reputation for quality and service which has put it ahead of many competitors and has attracted national and international clients to Leicester, not only benefitting College Court but the City as a whole.

imago Wins Business Tourism Title at Leicester and Leicestershire Excellence in Tourism Awards

imago, the conference and events arm of Loughborough University, has won Gold in the Business Tourism category at the Leicester and Leicestershire Excellence in Tourism Awards 2015.

The fifth annual awards were hosted by Leicester Shire Promotions and held as part of the inaugural Leicester Business Festival 2015, with the awards ceremony being held at the Leicester Mercure Grand Hotel last week (November 5, 2015). Its winning entry will now be re-judged for the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2016.

This award acknowledges the importance of the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector of the tourism industry. The judges felt imago’s winning entry was creative, inspirational, and passionate with a focus on detail in all areas, being committed to guest requirements and constantly striving to better themselves.

It is not the first time imago has been recognised for excellence at the awards – Burleigh Court has twice won Gold in the Large Hotel of the Year category. The Link Hotel was also shortlisted in the Accommodation Provider of the Year Category at this year’s awards.

imago is one of the region’s leading business tourism providers – renowned for its commitment to excellence and customer service - offering high quality meeting and event venues and accommodation alongside sporting and leisure facilities. Its award winning portfolio includes Burleigh Court, Holywell Park, The Link Hotel and Loughborough University. These are complemented by its event management service which allows event organisers to make the most of its local knowledge and expertise.

Emma Boynton, Head of Sales and Marketing at imago, comments: “Winning the Business Tourism award highlights imago’s strength as a leading provider to the meeting and events industry within the region. Winning awards such as this is a testament to the hard work of the entire team and I would like to thank them for their enthusiasm and commitment in helping us achieve our goals. This is a fantastic accolade and recognition of our hard working, customer focused staff.”

Launched in 2003, imago unifies Loughborough University’s conference and events venues under one brand. For more information visit www.welcometoimago.com or call 01509 633030.

College Court is officially 5 Star!

Following an audit by the Environmental Health Officer College Court are delighted to have been awarded 5 Star which ranks the venue as ‘Very Good’ in their standards of food hygiene.

The catering team led by Riccardo Corbinzolu are passionate about food and want all guests to leave with a memorable experience.

"Since opening, guests have enjoyed wonderful food and while we know that we have always carried out best practice it is great for the team to have it recognised following an independent audit. Working with Wilson Vale, our catering partner, this is an excellent endorsement of the quality measures that they have in place and re-enforces that quality is one of the key building blocks at College Court" commented Steve Crawford, Centre Director.

Riccardo Corbinzolu Head Chef says "My team and I are always aiming high and this is a quality mark that recognises the commitment and efforts made by my team at all times, which ultimately delivers the best possible experience to all our guests."

A huge well done to College Court and their dedicated team.

Leicester Conferences ‘highly commended’ in Tourism Awards

Leicester Conferences has been highly commended in the Business Tourism category at the Leicester and Leicestershire Excellence in Tourism Awards 2014.

The team beat off competition from other local venues. The category winner was another organisation with close links to the University – the National Space Centre.

Emma Rathbone, Conference Sales and Marketing Executive, said, ‘We are delighted to be highly commended in the Best Business Tourism category. We were the overall winners in this category last year so we didn’t really expect to receive any recognition again this year. To be highly commended given the level of competition is a great achievement.’

The Awards, created by Leicester Shire Promotions and now in their third year, celebrate the excellent work that a wide range of attractions, accommodation providers, restaurants, pubs and event organisers undertake to ensure their customers have the best possible experience.

The Business Tourism category is aimed at organisations at the forefront of the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector of the tourism industry. In particular, it seeks to reward innovation in products and services, and improvements to quality and infrastructure.

Leicester Conferences shortlisted for GTO Award

Group Travel Organiser magazine has shortlisted Leicester Conferences for the Best University Group Accommodation Award.

The Leicester Conferences team had some great news at the Best of Britain and Ireland show when they found out Leicester has been shortlisted by readers of Group Travel Organiser magazine for Best University Group Accommodation.

Leicester Conferences includes the Conference Centres of Excellence member venue, Stamford Court, a premier conference centre set in the heart of landscaped Edwardian gardens.

The venue can be used in its entirety combining Gilbert Murray hall with seven breakout rooms and hospitality lounge or each room individually for smaller meetings and events. Each meeting room features high quality data projection facilities, in addition Gilbert Murray boasts dual projection, lectern, a microphones including hand held, lapel and table top with a fully integrated PA system.

Emma Rathbone, Conferences Sales Manager said, 'This was a delightful surprise and we could not be happier. We will keep you up to date when the winner is announced in June.'

For more information please contact us on 0845 230 1414 or email info@cceonline.co.uk

College Court scores a hattrick at RIBA East Midlands awards

Three more accolades, including Building of the Year, follow RICS award earlier this month

Good things come in threes, and College Court certainly proves the rule as it has walked away from the Royal Institute of British Architects East Midlands Awards with wins in no less than three categories.

The University of Leicester's Conference Centre and Hotel Project, which transformed a former University Halls of Residence into a state-of-the-art conference facility and Hotel, was named Building of Year at the RIBA regional awards ceremony on 15 May, as well receiving a Conservation Award and an East Midlands Regional Award. 

It follows the award of a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) East Midlands Regional Award for Building Conservation Project of the Year earlier in May.

Members of College Court and the University’s Division of Estates and Facilities Management collected the awards, which celebrate of architectural excellence in the region. Regional winners will be put forward for the RIBA National Awards in June.

Trevor Humphreys, Director of Estates, said: “This is testament to the excellent project team that work tirelessly to deliver a high quality facility on time and on budget.  The University is quite rightly proud of College Court and I am flattered that the RIBA has recognised our work with these awards.”

Steve Crawford, College Court Conference Centre Director, said: "The recent awards won by College Court have come about from great teamwork, clear focus on what we wanted to achieve, and at the heart of all our decisions when developing the project was the customer. These have laid the foundations for College Court as it now successfully operates as a leading conference centre & hotel. The customer is the heart of the business and with the excellent team in place to run College Court I am confident that we will build upon the recent success."

College Court is a £17.5 million project which turned the University's Grade II listed College Hall buildings into a leading residential conference venue.

The buildings were originally designed by internationally renowned architects Trevor Dannatt and Leslie Martin and were originally built as catered student accommodation.

The refurbishment was designed by Associated Architects of Birmingham and constructed by Wilmott Dixon. The new designs met with the approval of one of the original architects, Trevor Dannatt.

The development also houses 18 conference rooms, 123 en suite bedrooms, restaurant, bar, private dining room and garden lounge.

The Grade II listed buildings, located close to the City Centre, had been out of use for around eight years.

Stamford Court Consolidates Growth for Conference Centres of Excellence

Stamford Court has joined Conference Centres of Excellence, the UK’s only sales and marketing consortium of dedicated meeting providers.

Set amongst 40 acres of landscaped grounds and a stunning botanic garden, Stamford Court is the latest venue from Leicester Conferences at the University of Leicester. Stamford Court offers a modern, state-of-the-art conference experience with excellent flexibility and multi-purpose rooms. With its large central hall, surrounding seminar rooms and hospitality lounge. Stamford Court has been designed to suit any type of conference, meeting or event making it the ideal and very accessible venue centrally located at the heart of England.

This purpose built facility will not only provide delegates with an all-round high quality conference experience it will also keep them in touch with each other and the outside world with its fully integrated audio visual and IT system and free wi-fi access throughout the building.

Having met stringent criteria in terms of facilities, accommodation and customer care, joining Conference Centres of Excellence enables Stamford Court to benefit from the group’s marketing activities, providing customers with a single route to booking one of our nationwide venues, with consistent quality standards.

Anthony Lishman, Executive Director of Conference Centres of Excellence said “The Midlands is the second biggest area for event bookings outside of London, and we have a strong presence in the area, with Stamford Court providing the addition of large flexible space accommodating up to 270 delegates in one flat-floored space, along with a number of other dedicated meeting rooms. We adapt our membership to meet customer demand, and are delighted to have Stamford Court join our broad venue portfolio.”

Conference Centres of Excellence has been working with specialist venues in the meetings, training and events industry for 21 years, and its 34 members include many of the country’s best known specialist venues, covering a geographical area extending from the south coast of England to Scotland. 

"For Stamford Court to become a member of the CCE consortium is a huge accolade and demonstrates the quality of the service and facilities we provide," says Conference Sales Manager, Emma Rathbone. "It is a massive boost to our team to know that our high standards are recognised by an organisation that prides itself on only working with the best in the sector. Our membership should provide a boost to business, clients’ satisfaction and team morale."   

For more information please call us on 0845 230 1414 or email info@cceonline.co.uk

College Court becomes latest member to join Conference Centres of Excellence

College Court in Leicester, a £14m project to transform a group of Grade ll listed buildings into a leading residential conference venue has joined Conference Centres of Excellence, the UK’s only sales and marketing consortium of dedicated meeting providers. 

College Court will open in October 2013 combining exemplary service with modern, state of the art facilities - a dedicated conference centre housing 18 conference rooms with capacities from two to 160 delegates, a 200 cover restaurant, bar, separate Garden Bar with  wide screen TV and business lounge. The onsite 123 bed hotel includes a selection of executive rooms and nine suites, as well as offering free onsite car parking, free wifi throughout, free leisure club access at two nearby University gyms and state of the art AV facilities.

Joining the consortium prior to opening enables College Court to benefit from the group’s marketing efforts and activities, providing customers with a single route to booking one of our nationwide venues, with consistent quality standards.

Anthony Lishman, Executive Director of Conference Centres of Excellence said “We are excited to be welcoming College Court within membership, and having spent considerable time working together reviewing the project, level of investment, architect plans and quality commitments we are confident that they will meet and exceed our strict criteria for quality standards in membership. Following a recent hard-hat tour, our expectations have been confirmed and College Court looks set to provide an excellent addition to our group of specialist venues.”

Conference Centres of Excellence has been working with specialist venues in the meetings, training and events industry for 21 years, and its 32 members include many of the country’s best known specialist venues, covering a geographical area extending from the South East of England, to Scotland.  Before joining, venues have to meet stringent criteria in terms of facilities, accommodation and customer care. 

Centre Director of College Court, Steve Crawford is no stranger to the group’s quality standards, being a previous Chair (during 2009 - 2011) and also Head of the Quality Group for Conference Centres of Excellence.

Steve commented: “I am delighted that College Court has been accepted into membership of CCE. As both businesses have the customer, quality and dedicated professional teams at the heart of all that we do. Joining CCE will provide a welcome boost to our pre-opening drive and will be wonderful to be working again with like- minded professionals.”

Full details will be available on our website soon, for more information please contact us on 0845 230 1414 or email info@cceonline.co.uk