WIMBLEDON
( AELTC / Joe Toth)
Serving an ace at Wimbledon
Wimbledon operations director Michelle Dite outlines how a balance is being struck between preserving the Championships heritage while embracing new tech and sustainability measures that enhance the guest experience.
Among Britain’ s few truly iconic summer sporting events, The Championships has long placed SW19 firmly in the international spotlight as the global media focuses on the grass court endeavours of tennis’ elite at the world’ s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament.
Over a period of ten weeks from April onwards, the All England Lawn Tennis Club( AELTC) is transformed each year by some of the event industry’ s most respected suppliers and skilled workforce in preparation for the Grand Slam event’ s opening.
From the beautifully prepared courts and stunning floral decorations, the countless food and beverage offerings and impressively presented retail outlets, to luxurious hospitality areas and player facilities, the event’ s workforce and suppliers work tirelessly to create a truly outstanding environment for the 42,00 people who visit each day.
An integral element of that transformation is the extensive temporary overlay created and installed for the event with an eye for detail that sees them blend seamlessly into the permanent infrastructure.
Just two years away from reaching its 150th anniversary, The Championships has a remarkable history and legacy but keeps a close eye on the future.
For Michelle Dite, operations director of the quintessential English summer institution, part of the challenge is the careful balancing of tradition and a longestablished brand with technological innovation. Among the new tech used this year was the much-publicised rollout of live electronic line calling on all courts. Another first was the permanent installation of‘ frictionless’ technology in the Walled Garden Larder F & B area which tracks guests as they move
26 accessaa. co. uk