Ascot Racecourse corporate hospitality at 2023 Royal Meeting served record-high covers

Ascot Racecourse has seen a record-high corporate hospitality covers and sales at its prestigious 2023 Royal Meeting.

The number of corporate diners at the five-day Royal Ascot event in June 2023 was up 44% compared to 2022, and revenue was up 29%. Despite market trends suggesting a decline in corporate spend on hospitality, the racecourse achieved record-breaking figures across the board for 2023 in both private boxes and on-site restaurants.

These world-class experiences included Ascot’s flagship Parade Ring Restaurant which saw three Michelin-star chef Simon Rogan (L’Enclume) create the ultimate culinary experience and the racecourse’s signature ON 5 Restaurant with two Michelin-starred chef Brett Graham (The Ledbury) at the helm.

Corporate covers for private dining experiences in the nearly-200-strong suite of hospitality boxes saw a dramatic rise by 91%. This reflects growing popularity for the venue’s executive box products, as demand for flexible, luxury dining increases where guests are not tied to their seats for a multi-course sit-down meal but are still enjoying high-end food and drink served throughout the day between racing and networking.

Corporates booking restaurant covers also rose by 31%. Overall, corporates made up 45% of the venue’s fine diners across the week – 12% above market average.

Which industries spent most on

Breaking down booking spend by industry, the SME market shows growing buoyancy, while construction, finance, wholesale trade and technology top the list of corporate clients for 2023.

Rob Paddon, Head of Sales at Ascot Racecourse said: “Royal Ascot 2023 has shown us some very encouraging patterns of behaviour for corporate hospitality, compared to market trends. We take great pride in delivering an exceptional corporate hospitality experience and we’re therefore very pleased to have seen a record-high satisfaction score for diners in our private boxes, sitting at 96%.

“The consistent growth in corporate hospitality at Royal Ascot, excluding 2020-21, shows us that many businesses continue to recognise the importance of networking, rewarding, and retaining employees and clients, so we’re working to developing these experiences further for corporate clients throughout the year at Ascot, whether during our flagship event, an Ascot Raceday or a non-racing private event.”

To find out more about corporate hospitality experiences at Ascot.

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