Santa Clara Convention Center Temp Concessionaire Hired

SANTA CLARA, CA — The City Council approved Tuesday an agreement with Ovations Food Services to provide interim food and beverage services at the Santa Clara Convention Center, the local government announced.

The city of Santa Clara is seeking a permanent operator for food and beverage operations at the Convention Center through a request for proposal process.

The city seeks proposals that would:

• provide the city and the convention center with high-quality food service
• meet other city objectives such as a long-term partner focused on the Santa Clara market
• provide for a strategic view on how to enhance convention center revenue
• allow for monitoring and measuring of key performance indicators among other items.

The competitive procurement process is still underway, and no permanent operator has been identified at this time. The city’s goal is to have a permanent, long-term food and beverage operator on board at the convention center by Jan. 1, 2020.

Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services had been providing food and beverage services while the Convention Center was managed under a previous Convention Center operator. On May 20, 2019, Aramark informed the City of its intention to cease food and beverage operations on July 26, 2019.

With limited time to transition to a new food and beverage provider, the city contacted Spectra Food Services & Hospitality to provide food and beverage services until the permanent provider is put into place.