Scandic and Jamie Oliver launch new meeting experience

“Everyone who has sat through long meetings and conferences knows that you need more than a room, good service and functioning technical equipment for the meeting to be a success. You need energy and inspiration, something that surprises and keeps energy levels up throughout the day”, comments Thomas Engelhart, SVP Commercial Operations, Scandic.

This is something that Scandic and Jamie Oliver have kept top of mind as they continue to build on the partnership that started so successfully last year.

“2009 saw more families at our hotels than ever before and people definitely noticed the changes at Scandic,” explains Thomas Engelhart. “Those who used to think of us as boring now think that we’re quite exciting and are curious about the brand transformation. Almost every week, someone calls looking to set up collaboration with Scandic; this is a very pleasing development. We have a long-term partnership with Jamie Oliver and couldn’t have asked for a better start.”

In 2010 it is the turn of Scandic’s meeting and conference guests to enjoy the results of Jamie Oliver’s creative food philosophy. The hotel chain is already a leading provider of conscious meetings, offering hearing loops at all hotels, water dispensed in-house in bottles of recycled glass – an initiative that saves around 160 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – and all the hotels work with the Nordic Swan ecolabel. Now the final touches are being made to this year’s innovations, with Jamie’s team, Scandic and selected customers deeply immersed in tastings and choosing surprises that will appear in the meeting room.

“Something fun and inspirational needs to happen during a long day of meetings. We give customers and guests a new experience, something to remember and a gift to take away with them – Jamie Oliver’s food is a key element of Scandic’s inspiring new meeting concept,” states Thomas Engelhart.

Scandic serves thousands of meeting and conference guests every year. That imposes special demands on the food – a challenge that inspires Jamie Oliver.

“It’s not just kids who love playing and having fun. We adults do too! It’s something I really think about when I create menus. The food has to taste good, but I also want it to inspire conversation and new ideas. I know from experience, after having cooked for many demanding meetings like at G20, that great food can make a difference to the outcome of the day,” concludes Jamie Oliver.

Jamie Oliver’s menu for meeting and conference guests will be served at all Scandic hotels from May 2010.


For more information, photos or interviews, please contact:
Thomas Engelhart, SVP Commercial Operations, Scandic, +46 709 73 5096
Jessica Agert, Media Relations Manager, Scandic, tel: +46 709 73 5013
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