Prestige bolsters racing portfolio with Hamilton Park win

Prestige Scotland, part of Sodexho Prestige, today announced the addition of Hamilton Park Racecourse to its already impressive sporting portfolio.

In a contract expected to bring in turnover of around £1m in its first season alone, Sodexho Prestige will provide its onsite catering and corporate hospitality services, launching a new champagne bar, permanent marquees and a new restaurant for owners and trainers.

Sodexho Prestige, the UK's largest event caterer and corporate hospitality provider, committed £80,000 to refurbish Hamilton Park's catering facilities prior to the opening race on 6 May.

The company's sporting portfolio already includes Ascot, Perth, and Sandown racecourses, as well as Hampden and Murrayfield stadia.

Hamilton Park's 2007 season began on Sunday 6 May with the Cancer Research Family Day; Prestige Scotland will provide catering and hospitality at all 18 meetings throughout the season. 

Prestige Scotland is also planning to revive Christmas and Hogmanay party nights at the racecourse as well as to increase the number of weddings, meetings and conferences in order to fully utilise Hamilton Park's facilities outside of race days.

Alyson Cawley, managing director of Prestige Scotland, said:  "There is a lot of growth potential at Hamilton Park, including the expansion of our meetings on non-race day business; we have a robust strategy to drive this side of the business. The venue is well known in its own right for hosting sporting and cultural events and we aim to ensure the food and drink matches the quality of the venue.          

She added: "Festive season parties will also be a big part of the business.   Our themed parties are very popular at our other Scottish sporting venues and, last year, we catered for 19,000 guests during the Christmas and New Year season. Hamilton Park will be a key venue for the 2007 party season."

Hamilton Park Racecourse enjoyed a bumper 2006 season with a four per cent rise in attendance figures and a 12 per cent increase in sponsorship income.  Some 68,775 race fans passed through the gates of the Lanarkshire track between May and September, while sponsorship at the racecourse was up to £201,000 from last year's £180,000.  

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexho – the parent company of Prestige Scotland - employs 48,000 staff, and provides food and a wide range of facilities management services to clients at over 2,300 locations in the business and industry, education, healthcare, leisure and defence sectors.