BEDA Awards launched

MAY 2007

SMIRNOFF BEDA AWARDS 2007

UPFRONT, NEWS, MAY 2007, COMMENTS

The 16th SMIRNOFF BEDA Awards will take place at the Hilton Metropole at the NEC Birmingham on 23 September. Long established as the trade’s most prestigious night out, the event has consistently celebrated the best our industry has to offer. After a year in which operators have responded to multiple regulatory challenges and a changing operational landscape with renewed creativity and energy, this outstanding event promises to be one of the best showcases of achievement yet.

Does your new venue stand head and shoulders above the rest? If so it might be time to enter the Smirnoff BEDA Awards: the bar and club industry’s most prestigious annual black tie event. Staged at the 5* Hilton hotel in Birmingham, the Awards have been a hotly anticipated calendar fixture since 1991, offering a chance for the country’s best operators to come together to recognise best practice and celebrate success.

Categories for this year are opposite, with the criterea for each explained. Anyone can nominate a venue, with submissions assessed by the BEDA panel and a shortlist for each category announced in August. Nominated venues should have opened between 1 June 2006 and 31 May 2007. Application forms can be found at www.beda.org.uk, and completed forms should be sent to Andrea at BEDA by 30 June by post or email andrea@beda.org.uk.

Once the shortlists have been finalised, each venue will be subject to a mystery shopper visit with undercover judges sent in at peak trading times to assess a wide range of factors. Judges will be looking at operational standards, measuring their success by the unit’s popularity, customer service, cleanliness, entertainment offer and drinks presentation. Winners will be announced on the night.

Characterised by unparalleled legal and political expertise, the Bar Entertainment and Dance Association continues to go from strength to strength. Successes in policy battles and the exploration of effective partnerships with a range of agencies have delivered results for members in many operational areas. As such, BEDA’s value has been recognised by an ever-widening range of people. As NIGHT goes to press, BEDA boasts its largest membership to date.

Successes aside, BEDA’s work continues. This is a critical time for our industry, with Home Office led enforcement initiatives to tackle alcohol-related disorder including such issues as ADZs, serving to drunks and under age sales. In addition, BEDA will be working to support venues through the transition to smoke free; as well as liaising between the trade, drinks producers and regulators on the issue of plastic. The revenue brought in to BEDA by the Awards makes a major contribution to the financing of its political campaigns across the year. By buying a ticket for the Awards you are not only guaranteeing yourself a quality night but assisting in the fight for a better trading environment - all for £125.

As always, demand for tickets for this year’s event will be high. While the Metropole hotel has one of the largest function rooms in the country it still cannot seat everyone who wants to attend. Tickets are now on sale at a cost of £125 each or £1200 for a table of ten (both plus VAT).

Those wanting to stay the night can enjoy special discounted rates at the hotel - representing great value for money as well as a conveniently close place to rest your head at the end of the night. Tickets and rooms both sell out quickly, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Headline sponsor SMIRNOFF is once again on board to help make the Awards experience one to remember for all 1,000 guests, not just for the winners. The partnership between brand owner Diageo and BEDA has consistently delivered spectacular awards nights and, now in its fifth year, this year’s event promises once again to impress.

From: May 2007 Issue

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