Denver Food Scores "Best in Show" for Event Industry Dining

DENVER, Aug. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Centerplate's food and beverage program at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado has been named among the top resorts, hotels, and convention centers worldwide for "Best Food and Beverage" by Convene, the Magazine of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), an organization representing the world's top meeting and event professionals, in the magazine's second-annual August issue showcasing the best meetings industry venues, destinations, and service providers.

For their annual feature, "Best in Show: 50 Great Things About the Meeting Industry Now," the editors of Convene polled the magazine's readers for nominees in 10 categories defining innovations and successes in the convention, trade show and exhibits worldwide, then selected the top candidates for each. Of the three convention centers that made the list, the Colorado Convention Center stood out for its commitment to sustainability and the local community.

"We are honored to receive this recognition for our team and our client," said Laurence Rua, Vice President of Centerplate. "Centerplate has been committed to a hospitality program that reflects Denver's dynamic community and treats guests to a world-class welcome that befits this great city."

In its announcement, Convene cited the quality of the food and beverage alongside its local commitment as elements that set apart Centerplate's hospitality program in Denver. "They are setting a good example of providing healthy foods and helping the environment at the same time… and at no additional cost to the meeting planner," said Debbie Richardt, CMP, who held an annual meeting at the Colorado Convention Center for the American Thoracic Society.

In addition to continuing its commitment to outstanding guest experiences for Denver's visitors, Centerplate has also made many upgrades and innovations to its food and beverage program at the Colorado Convention Center in recent years.

• Creation of Blue Bear Farm, a 5,000 square-foot urban garden just steps from the Convention Center's kitchen, which serves as a community space and provides produce, herbs and honey fresh for the convention center's kitchen.
• New retail food offerings in partnership with local chefs and purveyors featuring locally-sourced ingredients.

"Our partnership with Centerplate has been rewarding for our organization and community," said Kent Rice, executive director of Denver Arts & Venues Denver.  "They continue to maintain a high level of quality for our guests while introducing innovations that help to differentiate Denver as a world-class location of choice for meeting professionals."

ABOUT CENTERPLATE           
Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." for more than 115 million guests each year in over 300 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues across North America and the United Kingdom. Centerplate has provided event hospitality to 30 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, 13 Super Bowls, 21 World Series, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and the largest plated dinner in history. Recently, the company was named the fastest growing restaurant/hospitality group in the United States by Nation's Restaurant News, and has recently expanded operations in the United Kingdom. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

SOURCE Centerplate