Two messages to communicate this week. First, we were unsuccessful in winning the hospitality rights for the new Vikings stadium. The feedback from the client committee was illuminating. We were told that we had the best team. That we presented the best ideas and that we had the best programs. We were also told that we did not come close on the financials and that we were 2-4% off from a commission perspective. The reality is if we increased the commissions then we would have been paying the Vikings to work for them and lost $2-$4m over the next decade. Clearly, winning is more important to our competition than earning profitable growth. We did the right thing and if we did it all again, I would not change a thing. We can not be committed to providing the globe’s best event hospitality services and then cut corners or allow inferior practices to seep in to eck out a return, or even worse-case loss-generating deals. We have seen others do this and this spiral of demise is not for Centerplate. The challenge is to qualify accounts and find markets that recognize and reward superior hospitality. The better news is that they are out there. Centerplate is not for everyone – just those who care about providing championship hospitality.

The second message is that right now we rank in the top 10 of best companies to work for on Glassdoor. Our overall employee satisfaction is at 4.2, our CEO rating is 99% and 86% of our employees would recommend Centerplate as a great place to work for family and friends. Wow, but let’s strive to improve this record and to that end, shortly you will be receiving a note from Roy Arnold, our Chief Talent Officer. He will be introducing the next phase of our on-line Centerplate Way organizational development efforts, please embrace this!

So, while we will be challenged, our company has never been in a better place. We do not need to grow recklessly. Just this week, our Durham Bulls and Louisville Bats have been chosen by readers of USA TODAY Travel’s “10 Best” list of 20 great minor league ballparks across the country. Your vote counts! You can vote once a day for four weeks. VOTING ENDS AT NOON, AUG 12. Winners will be announced Wednesday, August 14. Use the link below to cast your vote by clicking on our parks. Here’s to a win for the Bulls and Bats! http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-minor-league-ballpark/

Again, their nominations and the many attained before underscore that we offer the highest standards in the industry. Watering this down to unprofitable business is not a winning formula. We grow the fastest in the industry from a same venue sales perspective, and we now have irrefutable evidence that we have the best and most motivated talent. We have challenges for sure. We will also overcome them all for sure as well.

E3 moments of the week is dedicated to our team mates who were promoted in the last quarter. It is a very long list, and I hope equally very encouraging to all. We are a company that is growing and one where our future has never been brighter.