Spectra Venue Management Services, which oversees Mosaic Place, now has more responsibility after winning a contract to provide food and beverage services for events and activities in the venue.
During the June 28 regular council meeting, city council voted unanimously to award the contract to the company for a term from July 1, 2021 to Sept. 1, 2024, with the option for a five-year renewal. Council also authorized the mayor and city clerk to sign the contract on behalf of the City of Moose Jaw.
The length of the initial contract also coincides with Spectra’s overall contract to manage the building.
City hall created a four-person team to find a new organization to provide food and beverage services for premium seating (suites and club seats); arena bowl concessions; meetings, banquets, conferences and weddings; the Great Western Lounge/curling club; and backstage catering.
Criteria that the winning company had to demonstrate included possessing exceptional customer service and having a variety of quality choices, and being innovative, efficient and using local vendors and beverage selections, a council report explained.
The Compass Group — the previous food and beverage provider — and Spectra were the two companies that applied.
After review, the selection committee chose Spectra since it was in-house, had greater control over quality, could meet the venue’s changing needs, would make greater use of the Great Western Lounge and bring enhanced service to the curling club, could use its existing expertise with food and beverage service, and could enhance banquet/meetings/weddings at Mosaic Place.
The committee also selected Spectra since it could give back full profits of $1.14 million and committed to providing $250,000 in capital contributions during the initial contract.
Council discussion
City manager Jim Puffalt was the interim general manager of Mosaic Place in 2018-19. He told council that one issue he heard was about quality and quantity of services, so the request for proposal (RFP) specifically asked for a company with expertise in food and beverages services.
“We want to have a tremendous level of service we provide people. Our concept we share is that we want Mosaic Place to be the pre-eminent event centre in southern Saskatchewan,” he added, “and it’s all about the experience, not about anything else.”
This will be a positive transition once the building reopens, especially since the previous level of service was a sore point for many people, Coun. Heather Eby said. She hoped that local food vendors would have the chance to provide services since many people want that.
Community food businesses will be included in the new agreement, Puffalt replied. Local craft beer was included at Mosaic Place in 2018 after customers requested it, but it was complicated to make it happen. With Spectra, guests will see big changes, including being able to order from their seats.
That will be good news for customers and local vendors, said Eby. She knows many residents have complained about why “mom and pop” shops have not provided food services in the building.
“This report speaks to what is required of a vendor in that facility. It’s more than just burgers at the Civic Centre like we used to have,” she added.
Using community vendors means their reputation will be on the line when they provide services, said Mayor Fraser Tolmie. For example, he thought Moose Jaw restaurants produced quality food based on his regular visits throughout the community.
The issue of staffing at Mosaic Place will also be addressed with this new contract, he added. Furthermore, he liked that Spectra has a good track record of partnerships in other communities and with big media companies.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, July 12.
