Centerplate Awarded Long-Term Contract Extension with New York State's Olympic Regional Development Authority

STAMFORD, Conn., March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Centerplate, the hospitality partner to North America's premier ski resorts, convention centers and sports venues, announced today it has been awarded a multi-year contract renewal with the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) in upstate New York.  With the new agreement in place, Centerplate will continue to provide tailored hospitality services for ORDA, a Centerplate partner for over 25 years. Centerplate operates a range of hospitality solutions from quick-service stands and ski rentals to black-tie banquets and retail merchandise stores for ORDA's varied entertainment and recreation sites, which include both Gore and Whiteface Mountains. The readers of SKI Magazine ranked Whiteface Mountain as the #1 Ski Resort in the Eastern United States and #1 for Off-Hill activities in North America 18 years in a row.

Centerplate will also partner with ORDA on the opening of its new state-of-the-art conference facility in downtown Lake Placid. Once completed, the conference center will offer more than 90,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with 12 breakout rooms, a full-service production kitchen, state-of-the-art audio/visual technology and a 9,000-square-foot ballroom, set to open in May of this year.

"Following a rigorous and competitive bidding process, we are pleased to announce the latest contract renewal with the Olympic Regional Development Authority," said Pat Bruhn, Centerplate's Senior Vice President with executive responsibility with properties. "We look forward to continuing to provide our partner with the unparalleled service experience they expect from Centerplate."

"We have been pleased at the quality of experience that Centerplate has delivered for guests of our world-class properties during the years they have been our partner," said Ted Blazer, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Centerplate is uniquely positioned to contribute to our strategic vision given their proven success in ski resort, arena, and convention hospitality. This new chapter in our partnership will enable us to raise even further our already high standard for our guest experiences."

This extension announcement follows other recent long-term contract award for the company making it one of the strongest years ever in new business development and client retention in the company's' eighty-year history. New client-partners include the Woodruff Arts Center, one of the nation's most prestigious art centers, in Atlanta, Ga., the Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center, in the heart of downtown Detroit, Mich., and the Baltimore Convention Center, among others.

About Centerplate:

Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in 250 prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues across North America. Centerplate has provided services to 11 Super Bowls, 20 World Series, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Art Basel Miami Beach, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

About ORDA:

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speedskating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.

SOURCE Centerplate