Venues of Excellence (VOE), the UK’s leading collection of conference and events venues, is proud to welcome two iconic racing destinations into its prestigious membership: Uttoxeter Racecourse and Doncaster Racecourse Exhibition Centre, along with the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel.
Arena Racing Company introduced Royal Windsor Racecourse into Venues of Excellence membership in 2024, and through a successful programme of marketing initiatives and business collaboration, has now welcomed the addition of two further racecourses to the portfolio.
Mandy Jennings, CEO or Venues of Excellence said: “We are thrilled to welcome both Uttoxeter Racecourse and Doncaster Racecourse Exhibition Centre, along with the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, into the Venues of Excellence family. These prestigious additions further enhance our diverse and dynamic portfolio, offering our clients even more exceptional locations for their events. Through strategic collaborations and a shared commitment to excellence, we continue to expand and strengthen our network, ensuring that we offer unparalleled venues across the UK.”
Uttoxeter Racecourse is one of the Midlands’ leading event venues set in 110 acres and with stunning views across the Staffordshire countryside. This venue offers unforgettable outdoor events with expansive green spaces and a range of indoor event spaces to complement. A choice of 42 suites and syndicate rooms alongside multiple dining spaces gives event organisers the flexibility to combine spaces to suit their event needs, creating a unique event experience for up to 600 delegates.
Doncaster Racecourse also joins the portfolio, and is renowned for its exceptional conference events and is one of the largest corporate events venues in South Yorkshire. Doncaster is one of the oldest and largest established Racecourses in Britain with a well-established fixtures calendar. The venue complex offers a broad range of event spaces which can be tailored to event organisers’ needs, with a choice that includes the main Exhibition Hall which is able to seat up to 3,000 delegates for dinners, conferences and gala events. The onsite Hilton Garden Inn Hotel with 154 bedrooms, makes this venue an ideal location for residential events and conferences.
Rachel Harwood, Executive Director for Doncaster Racecourse values the benefits that membership to Venues of Excellence brings to their business commenting: “Joining Venues of Excellence is a proud step for Doncaster Racecourse as we continue to elevate our offering within the events and hospitality industry. We’re committed to delivering outstanding experiences, and being part of this respected consortium allows us to benchmark against the very best in the sector, share best practice, and further enhance the quality and innovation we bring to every event. We are delighted to have been accepted by Venues of Excellence to become a member”.
On joining the consortium, Clare Marsden, Regional Event Sales Manager for Arena Racing Company said “We are absolutely delighted that Doncaster Racecourse & Uttoxeter Racecourse are now part of the Venues of Excellence family. After initially joining Royal Windsor Racecourse 12 months ago, it was key for us to establish a Northern and Midlands presence into the Venues of Excellence portfolio. We are proud to now have three of our Racecourses in the category of unique and trusted venues, as we strive to offer exciting and memorable events to our clients old and new, and we are looking forward to developing relationships with other members in the industry and sharing best practice.”
Venues of Excellence will be exhibiting at The Meetings Show (Stand E51), joined by the Arena Racing Company and 15 other member venues. The team will be discussing with MICE buyers the key benefits of choosing independent venues to host meetings, conferences, and events.
