EDINBURGH University’s catering arm has won a major UK-wide award in recognition of its positive impact.
Accommodation Catering & Events (ACE) received the Commercial University of the Year prize at the College and University Business Officers (CUBO) awards held at Swansea University.
ACE was awarded for maximising revenue from Edinburgh University’s assets.
In 2018, ACE, which markets services externally under its commercial brand name of Edinburgh First, organised 1648 events for more than 132,000 delegates – and accommodated more than 42,000 guests across its hotels and apartments, bringing huge economic and academic benefit to the Scottish capita Richard Kington, director of ACE, said: “The past year and a half has been increasingly successful, with all aspects of the business growing.
“Teams across ACE have helped in this growth and we have never been in a better position to maximise the benefit we bring to the University.
“We are of course are incredibly lucky to boast iconic, historic settings in the heart of the city – such as McEwan Hall, but we are also able to offer over 200 venues and spaces across the city, historic and newer purpose built, offering something for all conference delegates and organisers.
“This award is for the many staff who have helped us achieve some outstanding results. We are grateful also to the many customers who recognise the service we provide but also that our efforts support directly the wider aims of the University of Edinburgh. We really are so proud to achieve this recognition at such a prestigious UK-wide awards event.”
The organisation owns and operates two hotels, KM Central and Salisbury Green Hotel and Bistro (which in 2018 underwent a £4.5 million refurbishment), plus Richmond Place Apartments.
Over the summer it lets 5000 student rooms, including Pollock Halls campus, which for three months of the year becomes the largest hotel in Scotland – playing a major role hosting groups, cast and crew from many of the summer Festivals.
CUBO chair elect, Gillian Almond, said: “The standard of this year’s entries was deeply impressive and proved highly inspirational for our judges. The UK’s universities are seen as some of the best in the world.”
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