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Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre is thrilled to announce that we have won the Silver Award for National Function/Convention Centre Caterer in the Restaurant and Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence.

Our journey to this national recognition was set in motion by our earlier triumph at the state level, where we emerged victorious as the Function/Convention Centre Caterer and the prestigious Western Australia Caterer of the Year, automatically entering us into the national finals, speaking volumes about the exceptional calibre and impact of our work in the industry.

This achievement is a testament to the commitment and tireless efforts of our passionate team. From the innovative minds to the dedicated individuals who execute everything with precision, every member of our team has played an integral role in this success.

Kendra Naidoo, General Manager Venue Operations at PCEC, expressed her pride in the team’s accomplishments: “Winning on a national scale is a remarkable achievement for PCEC. I am immensely proud of each team member who contributed to this success. This recognition is not just a reflection of our hard work, but also a validation of our dedication to setting industry standards.”

“As we rebuilt our business in 2022 and 2023 we chose to strategically focus on and invest in our culinary offering, by creating moments of exceptional experiences so events at PCEC are enjoyable and stress-free, whilst our personalised service driven teams deliver on memorable experiences. This acknowledgment and award demonstrates we are on the right path” comments Nigel Keen, General Manager, PCEC.

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, a leader in the business events industry, are proud to announce our recent success at the 2023 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards, where we were awarded the prestigious Silver accolade. The awards dinner, which took place on Saturday evening at Crown Perth, brought together the industry’s finest to celebrate outstanding achievements and innovation.

PCEC stood out for its commitment to excellence, innovation, and unwavering dedication to its customers and business events. The Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards are a testament to the company’s continuous efforts to push boundaries and set new standards in the industry.

Reflecting on the achievement, PCEC’s General Manager of Venue Operations, Kendra Naidoo, expressed immense pride in the team’s accomplishments: “Winning Silver at the Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and growth of our incredible team. Throughout our journey, especially in the post-COVID era, we’ve faced challenges head-on, and this recognition is a reflection of how far we’ve come as a business.”

Kendra continued, “Our success is not just about winning awards; it’s about the journey we’ve undertaken together as a team. This Silver award symbolizes our collective commitment to excellence and innovation. It’s a proud moment for everyone associated with PCEC.”

Carolyn Turnbull, Managing Director Tourism WA, described the awards as a “benchmark of excellence” for all the finalists. The 2023 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards play a crucial role in acknowledging businesses, individuals, and destinations for their exceptional contributions and achievements. PCEC’s Silver win underscores its commitment to standing as Perth’s premier business events venue, delivering exceptional hospitality and customer service.

We are excited to announce that Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre has been honoured with another prestigious hospitality award, taking home the Catering Institute of Australia, WA Division Gold Plate for Caterers Award, marking it our third triumph this year! This recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment and passion of our incredible team, once again highlighting PCEC as the premier food and beverage events venue of Western Australia.

This award evaluates caterers based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including customer service received at the initial enquiry, function set up and atmosphere, food presentation, taste and service, the quality of Western Australian ingredients used, beverage service, as well as presentation and knowledge of staff, through to post event follow up, we are pleased to say that PCEC has excelled in every aspect.

From the very first point of contact, our team’s dedication to providing a seamless experience and attention to detail have shone through. This award is a celebration of the collective efforts of our entire team. Every member has played a crucial role in meeting and exceeding the criteria set forth by the judges. Our commitment to creating memorable moments for our guests is the driving force behind this incredible recognition.

“It’s fantastic to be recognised for the team’s commitment and the desire to pursue excellence to create successful events on a daily basis. We are so grateful to have a team who want to learn from each other every single day. Their innovation, hard work, and client-focused approach are a pleasure to be part of.” celebrates Andrew Mann, Director of Food & Beverage, PCEC.

Andrew continued “However we understand our food experience needs to continue to evolve, I look forward to sharing with you in the new year some new menu items and concepts that we are exploring with local suppliers to bring you the best produce Western Australia and our skilled chefs can offer.”

We are eager to share more glimpses of the celebration, stay tuned for a collection of photos capturing the joy and shared pride that define this remarkable achievement.

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Carbon Positive Australia (CPA) a forward-thinking company dedicated to raising funds for tree planting initiatives. This collaboration is rooted in a shared commitment to environmental restoration, carbon offsetting, and community well-being. By engaging CPA, we aim to empower our clients with a conscientious and carbon-positive approach to their events, where they will have the opportunity to Donate a Tree or contribute funds towards tree planting. Since 2001 Carbon Positive Australia has planted over 7.4 million trees, restored 5400 hectares and captured 675,000 tonnes of carbon and counting.

“We are proud to partner with Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, who recognise the importance of environmental responsibility through the sustainable practices they have put in place…”, commented Lauren Purcell, Communications & Partnerships Coordinator, Carbon Positive Australia.

“… this provides an opportunity for Carbon Positive Australia to connect with event organisers and individuals alike to bring awareness to our cause. As a nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping restore the Australian environment through native tree planting and ecosystem restoration, partnerships like these help us achieve our mission, and we can only do this when we come together.”

The funds raised will contribute to large-scale tree planting projects, fostering environmental restoration and biodiversity. Moreover, these initiatives play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, aligning with our clients’ desire to mitigate the environmental impact of their events. Beyond environmental benefits, our partnership supports community development, as tree planting initiatives involve local communities, creating jobs and fostering a sense of shared responsibility. This collaborative effort reflects our dedication to sustainable practices and offers our clients a meaningful avenue to make a positive impact on the planet while hosting memorable and environmentally responsible events.

“In embracing this exciting relationship, we’re pleased to welcome Carbon Positive Australia as a new partner in support of our campaign to reducing our environmental impact. Their work aligns seamlessly with our sustainability goals, reinforcing our commitment to eco-conscious practices into every facet of our operations. Together, we’re not just reducing our footprint but enhancing our commitment to sustainability, delivering on a promise of environmental responsibility that echoes the values important to our clients.” Kendra Naidoo, General Manager Venue Operations, PCEC

We’re excited to announce that PCEC has been selected as a FINALIST in the 2023 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards in the Business Event Venue category.

This recognition wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our dedicated team and our amazing clients. We are truly humbled by this honour, and it fuels our passion to continue delivering exceptional experiences.

Thank you to all of you who have trusted us with your events and we’re excited to represent the WA Business Events sector at the Awards Gala dinner on 11th November, where the winners will be announced.

Fingers crossed!

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre has won the Function/Convention Centre Caterer and the prestigious Western Australia Caterer of the Year at the 2023 Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence for Western Australia.

General Manager of Venue Operations, Kendra Naidoo says “I am thrilled to announce some incredible news that truly reflects the exceptional dedication, talent, and hard work of our team. This achievement is a testament to our collective commitment to excellence, innovation, and collaboration.”

Restaurants, cafés, and catering businesses gathered to celebrate the achievements of their peers and the announcement of the award winners at the Pan Pacific Perth on the 28th August 2023.

The Awards for Excellence is a nationally recognised program that celebrates exceptional service and culinary talent across the state.

Caterers are assessed on all aspects of their catering business including operations, food, service, staffing and event/site outcomes to determine the catering category winners.

Restaurant & Catering Awards CEO Suresh Manickam says, “Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre should be proud of this achievement and their commitment to food and service excellence.”

General Manager of PCEC Nigel Keen shared “PCEC had a goal of re-establishing itself as the Premier food and beverage events venue of Western Australia, post the pandemic; this award reflects the hard work of the team and affirms we are on track to achieving our goal”.

Exciting News! We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded FINALIST in the prestigious Gold Plate Awards as Corporate Venue Caterer.

This incredible achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and we couldn’t be more proud of this recognition.

Being named a finalist by The Catering Institute showcases our commitment to excellence and innovation in the business events sector. We are continuously striving to deliver the best service we can and provide exceptional experiences for our clients, guests and visitors.

Our Executive Chef Mark Meier, Food & Beverage Manager Carmen Bisset and Senior Event Manager Bryony Panetta attended the announcement dinner last night at Optus Stadium, surrounded by industry experts, as they received the award.

We will continue to innovate, create, and exceed expectations in everything we do.

Stay tuned as we eagerly await the final announcement at the award ceremony in October.

Moments of pride!

Food has an important role in creating exceptional experiences at any event and is often one of the most memorable components your guests will talk about, long after they’ve gone home.

At the heart of our culinary offering is “Feeding Your Performance” with menus designed to fuel the body and mind of delegates and guests, all whilst supporting local businesses and WA growers. With such a diverse range of exciting produce hailing from Western Australia, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to quality. “We celebrate the finest produce of the state through our menus and are passionate about promoting local supply chains and supporting regional communities that offer world class produce.” says Nigel Keen, General Manager PCEC.

To reinforce this philosophy, PCEC has introduced a revamped beverage menu to include new wine packages from the Great Southern and Margret River regions. To complement our offering, we are pleased to announce a new partnership with Running with Thieves (RWT) as PCEC’s new beer supplier. RWT are an independent locally owned business from South Fremantle, with a passion for producing premium quality goods. The majority of everything they produce is sourced locally and made by hand in their brewery and distillery opposite Fremantle’s iconic South Beach.

“The ingredients are as fresh as possible when they go into the beer because they haven’t had to travel far, making local beer, better beer, with a local flavour.” says Andrew Mann, Director of Food and Beverage PCEC.

Embracing the RWT creative freedom with seasonal products, PCEC has the opportunity to provide unique craft beers to elevate our events for clients and visitors. “We’re excited about our new partnership with Running with Thieves as PCEC are passionate about supporting local businesses and providing high quality, premium products to our clients” commented Andrew.

“The PCEC team, led by Nigel and Andrew, has an impressive vision to provide a premium offering and experience that sets a benchmark for exhibitions and events throughout Australia. We at Running with Thieves are thrilled to contribute to the realization of this vision.” comments Scott Douglas, Co-founder and Managing Director of Running with Thieves.

“By choosing to support a local producer like Running with Thieves, PCEC is not only supporting our team of 60 individuals but also indirectly backing a community of local suppliers, including WA farmers who supply our grain, to local producers of packaging and fresh produce.” continues Scott. “…we applaud their efforts for seeking out and driving this partnership and showcasing the value and talent of independent producers and artisans in Western Australia.”

PCEC is excited to announce some internal movements within its senior management team.

Taking over from Kendra Naidoo, following her appointment to General Manger of Venue Operations, Joyce Muleya has been appointed as the new Director of Corporate and Event Services. Joyce started her hospitality career at PCEC in 2007 and has worked her way through the business at PCEC and other Spotless contracts including Woodside as Corporate Hospitality Manager.

PCEC are pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Mann as the new Director of Food & Beverage, former Director of Culinary Operations. With a career spanning more than 25 years, Andrew has a wealth of experience and we are thrilled that he is stepping into the new role to lead both departments.

PCEC celebrates the promotion of Mark Meier as the new Executive Chef, Mark is a true culinary professional with over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he comes with a wealth of international operational experience and has been with PCEC since 2020.

Carmen Bisset was promoted to Food & Beverage Manager. Since joining PCEC in July 2022 as the Customer Service Manager – Hospitality, Carmen has excelled in her role and become a real asset to the wider PCEC team. With 10 years of hospitality experience, Carmen has received a great deal of recognition for her leadership and management skills.

PCEC are excited to see the new direction for the team in 2023.

PCEC is pleased to announce Kendra Naidoo, former Director of Corporate and Events Services, as the new General Manager Venue Operations.

Working alongside General Manager, Nigel Keen, Kendra is responsible for the effective leadership and management of all venue operations and resources within PCEC.

“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to step into this new role. Nigel has been an exceptional role model and mentor for me over the past 10 years and I am thrilled to continue working with him, in leading our team, which we have focused on rebuilding since the effects of COVID19.” remarks Kendra.

During her time as Director of Corporate and Events Services, Kendra provided invaluable support to the Senior Management Team offering leadership and direction across the Events and Hospitality Service departments.

“For the past 5 years, since joining PCEC, Kendra has been responsible for overseeing the hospitality service and events management, whilst consistently supporting myself with corporate service. I’m delighted to have Kendra leading our team into the next phase of growth for our venue” comments Nigel.

Kendra is an accomplished professional with career highlights at Marvel Stadium, HBF Park and five years as Venue Manager at Perth Zoo, where she won Venue Caterer of the Year WA for the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association of Australia. She has also managed many prestigious external events including Leeuwin Estate Concerts and Gourmet Escape.

 Kendra looks forward to building a strong relationship with our clients and working collaboratively in 2023 and beyond, to ensure we deliver on our promises, whilst providing excellence in customer service.