Nottingham nightspot in safe hands

March 7, 2013 - PRLog -- Having arrived just over 12 months ago to take the reins of Nottingham’s leading entertainment venue Mark Hands, venue director at Alea, is looking forward to what he perceives as being a hugely exciting time in the leisure and entertainment sector.

Having implemented a number of new initiatives over the past 12 months that have added to the Upper Parliament Street nightspot’s appeal, Mark and his team are now putting in place plans that they hope will attract more people to the city.

Opened in November 2007, Alea, which now employs over 100 people, redefined what people from across the East Midlands could expect from an entertainment venue following an investment of £15 million.

And the initial investment to make Alea the place to go has continued since Mark’s arrival who with a 20 year career in the hotel sector, has brought a fresh approach to attracting people looking for a good night out.

Mark said: “My first year here has been a really exciting and interesting time which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.

“As a hotelier it was imperative to always have excellent standards of service, consistent team training and high customer retention which created the perfect customer experience.

“That meant the customer would have to be central in every decision we make so it’s been interesting to add to an industry that already has exacting standards of play and social responsibility, my own unique twist of customer awareness.

“When I arrived my key objectives were to develop each member of my team therefore investing in the future foundations of the business; to re-launch the food and beverage outlets, creating a venue perception rather than just a Casino; and to drive market share in all areas.”

Mark’s view on what makes a great night out seems to be having the desired effect with both December 2012 and January 2013 both posting record sales that were double the previous year!

The arrival of a brand new Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill has certainly appealed to the cities foodies looking for a night of ‘affordable glamour’ with covers consistently hitting 500 per week.

Glamorous shows like the Bollywood Extravaganza, classes such as Samba dancing and regular live music has also helped draw in people who wouldn’t necessarily have been to the venue before.

The venue was also recognised for its commitment for training at the National Training Awards picking up a brace of awards in the Employer of the Year and Personal Achiever categories.

Its commitment to get involved with the local community is also something Mark is keen to develop with close links already established with Clarendon College and Nottingham Forest Football Club.

Mark added: “The leisure industry is permanently in a process of change and has been ever since I can remember it. However any business that has perfect customer service, is an ambassador to the local community and gives people the opportunity to have fun, develop and grow, will survive whilst setting the standards for others to follow.

"What we’ve done is give people a reason to come here and enjoy themselves on a number of different levels.

“Our shows are like nothing else in Nottingham and for the greatest British chef the UK has ever produced to open a new restaurant here is a great endorsement not only for the venue but for Nottingham as a whole.

“My goal is to now focus on attracting more businesses to use the venue’s facilities for meetings and events. As long as we continue to provide something that reflects the needs of people looking for a good night out and businesses that need a quality venue for meetings and events I think the future is going to be a busy and exciting time.”

For further information please visit http://nottingham.aleacasinos.com or call 0115 871 9860.