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Convex Leisure Builds Business with Rendezvous SaaS - the Hosted Venue
and Catering Management System
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What does it take to carve out a niche in the highly
competitive world of contract catering? For
starters, imaginative food, superb venues,
enthusiasm, experience, and flair. You also need
outstanding management systems.
 Convex Leisure provide quality hospitality and
foodservice at exclusive venues and outdoor events
around the UK. With the addition of the Royal
Over-Seas League to their portfolio of venues,
Convex Leisure continued their successful
development programme. Much of the necessary
enthusiasm comes from the Business Development
Manager, Jacqui Waby.
Jacqui has a solid background in the world of
catering and events, having previously worked at
Liverpool John Moores University, the King's Fund
and the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, before coming on board with Convex
Leisure and moving to a new role at Head Office. "It
was a big change from the front line of a venue to
head office. You really get to see the big picture,"
she says.
Considering that Convex Leisure is a relatively new
company, established in March 2003, their client
list is impressive. In addition to handling full
catering and venue management for the Royal
Over-Seas League, the company is the official
caterer for the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC)
and Pavilion Theatre, Eastbourne Borough Council,
the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, The Magic Circle and the Royal
College of Pathologists. Sporting events include the
Hastings Direct Ladies' International Tennis
Championships, where Convex Leisure handles retail
catering and corporate hospitality, as well as
retail catering at Henley Royal Regatta and the
International Horse Trials held at historic Blenheim
Palace.
Convex Leisure's professionalism and experience mean
that clients benefit from a total catering resource
which brings quality, choice, and innovation to all
catering operations and events. In addition to the
fixed-site contracts, the Special Events division of
the business also provides catering and event
management services at a range of prestigious venues
and events, including the London Transport Museum.
To manage client venue calendars, Jacqui and the
team use Rendezvous SaaS, the browser-based
catering, meeting room and conference management
solution developed, hosted, and supported by NFS
Hospitality.
New technology required to meet catering and
venue needs
Initially, there was no requirement for any
specialist software packages. However, as the
company began to win full catering and venue
management contracts, such as that for the Royal
Over-Seas League, the scope of these contracts made
Jacqui and her colleagues realise that only an
automated booking system could handle the workflow
and calendar management.
"We manage all operational and sales and
marketing activities at this venue," she says.
"This is an enormous responsibility." The
Royal Over-Seas League, located in the heart of
London's West End, operates as a private members'
club with two restaurants and nine elegant function
rooms.
Jacqui knew of NFS Hospitality's excellent
reputation from her work at the King's Fund and the
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
both long-term NFS clients. Now, however, having
decided to buy a system, she was determined to be
objective and compare all available software. "I
knew I wanted all the functionality without the
headaches and heavy investment. I particularly liked
NFS' hosted option as it meant no investment in
hardware or IT infrastructure," she notes.
"It's very economical."
Rendezvous was installed on a hosted basis (ASP) in
May 2005 and Jacqui is delighted. "It is a superb
solution for our needs at the Royal Over-Seas
League, and in the future we will be able to use it
in all venues where we have calendar responsibility,"
she explains. "I know that the system is secure
and up to date. Best of all, if there is a glitch, I
know that NFS' support team can view the system
remotely. This saves an enormous amount of time."
Excellent systems contribute to continued growth
Convex Leisure is growing steadily, comments Jacqui.
"We are continuing to win new catering and venue
management contracts. I believe that our attention
to detail and our excellent systems contribute to
our success."
Going forward, Jacqui is confident that Convex
Leisure will continue to build its client portfolio
on the basis of its high-profile clients - and its
reputation for efficient management. "We already
have a solid portfolio of prestigious and unique
venues, and have established excellent relationships
with our clients. We want to continue to build on
these and further develop the business as we move
forward." |
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