AHA names Adelaide Oval as Australia’s best events venue

Adelaide Oval has been named as the country’s Best Meeting and Events Venue at the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) National Awards for Excellence, which was also hosted at the South Australian venue.

The national accolade is the latest in a string of achievements for Adelaide Oval’s events and hospitality capabilities, including the AHA SA Award for Best Meeting and Events Venue, South Australian Tourism Award for Business Events Venue, and multiple Restaurant & Catering Awards recognising excellence in events and dining.

Welcoming the accolade, Adelaide Oval Chief Executive, Nick Addison stated “while Adelaide Oval is renowned for exceptional game day and concert experiences, we have also built a reputation for delivering world-class events and conferencing.

“No matter their role or expertise, everyone on the Adelaide Oval team shares a commitment to creating unmissable experiences for our guests.

“We’re immensely proud to see that recognised by our peers on the national stage, particularly in a year that has seen us deliver so many unique events - from the inaugural AFL Gather Round to the LIV Golf Adelaide Welcome Party and Tourism Australia’s Dreamtime showcase.”

Much of the Adelaide Oval experience is about celebrating the state’s famous food and wine, with  Executive Chef Philip Pope having also been recognised at last month’s AHA SA Awards for Excellence as South Australia’s Chef of the Year, while one of his apprentice chefs Flynn Hawksworth was awarded TAFE SA’s Apprentice Chef of the Year.

Addison added “Phil’s fingerprints are evident across the entire Adelaide Oval food and beverage experience, from our game day kiosks to our locally focused events menus.

“I’m delighted that he and his team have been singled out for their unwavering passion and outstanding contribution alongside our wider events offering.”

Adding that the venue’s continued success was underpinned by a commitment to excellence, Adelaide Oval General Manager - Partnerships and Sales, Jo Thomson noted “we take a holistic approach to functions and events at Adelaide Oval because we have so much on our doorstep that can elevate the guest experience.

“We’re extremely flexible and creative in how we use the venue itself and the different spaces on offer, and then build on that through personalised menus featuring local produce, messages on our scoreboard and screens, added RoofClimb experiences, rooms for guests at our in-house Oval Hotel and so much more.”

Image: Members of the Adelaide Oval team accept their AHA awards, (from left), Adelaide Oval General Manager Food and Beverage Matt Omond, Jo Thomson and award sponsor Greg Bohlson, Foxtel Head of Licensed Venues.