The annual awards ceremony recognises outstanding business-to-business and business-to-consumer events, both in the UK and overseas. The Best Hospitality Experience Award has been previously won by Chelsea Football Club and Keith Prowse.

 

Now in its 14th year, The Boodles won the 2014 gold award ahead of The Championships, which won silver. Organised by ACE Group, the pre-Wimbledon event offers guest world-class tennis and hospitality within a fun English garden party atmosphere in the beautiful surroundings of the 350-acre Stoke Park.

 

With an intimate crowd of only 2,000 and no seat further than ten metres from the court, The Boodles saw eight of the world’s top 20 ATP players tune up for The Championships at the Buckinghamshire venue.

 

“To win the Best Hospitality Experience is such an honour,” said Giammario Ragnoli, General Manager of Stoke Park. “It is always our aim to exceed our guests’ expectations and we take great pride at Stoke Park in delivering a world-class experience. To have The Boodles recognised by the industry and our peers, especially at the prestigious Eventia Awards, is phenomenal.”

 

As well as scooping the prestigious award, the event has received another boost. With The Championships being moved back a week to allow players an extra week to hone their grass-court preparations after Roland Garros, the schedule change offers The Boodles the chance to elevate its status in the British sporting and social calendar.

 

“We are excited that due to the Wimbledon date change The Boodles 2015 will now be the week after Royal Ascot – previously we have been the same week,” said Patricio Apey, founder of The Boodles and CEO of Ace Group.

 

“We are absolutely delighted to win this award. From the beginning we always wanted to create a fabulous English summer garden party that happened to have great professional tennis in the lead up to Wimbledon.

 

“Each year The Boodles has managed to sell out faster than the year before and we are delighted to see it take an established place in the British summer season of events as well as the schedule of many top players.”

 

Novak Djokovic, US Open champion Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic all competed at Stoke Park in 2014, while Andy Murray has also used the event to put the finishing touches on his Wimbleon preparations in the past.

 

While a stadium pass is available from £59, the top hospitality package includes a gourmet lunch in the players’ enclosure, where the competitors are interviewed before taking to the court before guests watch the action from a private courtside box. Hospitality tickets start from £245 per person.