The Brit Oval leads the field of sporting venues

The Oval Conference Centre heads the BDRC Meetings Market Survey

The Oval Conference Centre has come first for overall service performance in the January BDRC Meetings Market Survey, published in Meetings & Incentive Travel. The survey states that one in three corporate organisers and over 50% of professional agents used a sporting venue in the past twelve months. As with other sporting venues around the UK, the Brit Oval is looking to maximise use of its space when not being used for cricket. There are typically twelve major match days per year, which leaves the vast majority of the year available for meetings and events.

Whilst sporting venues have work to do to match the industry standard across hotels, management training centres and central reservations services, the Oval Conference Centre is leading the way in terms of overall service performance. The manner and approach of its staff scored 20.7 points out of a possible 25.

Zac Toumazi, Managing Director of Oval Events Ltd said, “It has always been our strategic objective to transform our business from seasonal to year round.
To be recognised in such a way is particularly gratifying as we are making progress but as an industry, there is still more to do. The commitment from Oval Events and the Oval Conference Centre is that we intend to be at the forefront of improving standards – watch this space!”

Ceri Davies, Head of Sales & Marketing for Oval Events said, “People buy people first so it’s of paramount importance that our sales team are friendly and approachable at the first point of contact with a potential client. Nine times out of ten, that contact is via the telephone so a rapport must be found quickly in order for the client to place their business with us.”

The Oval Conference Centre also scored highly in following up enquiries, scoring 18 out of a possible 25, just 2.3 points behind the Millennium Stadium. Ceri said: “If a client has enquired about booking the Oval Conference Centre, then following up that enquiry goes without saying. In order to achieve revenue targets, we must convert as many enquiries as possible.”

“And once the client has confirmed their booking, the event must be delivered to the highest level and exceed the client’s expectations. The Oval Conference Centre believes passionately in this ethos and with 47% of clients returning to the Oval, this figure speaks volumes about the service delivery.”

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