Mystic Aquarium to enhance guest experiences
Selects OVG hospitality as new food and beverage provider and private events caterer
Mystic Aquarium today announced the selection of OVG Hospitality, the food and beverage division of Oak View Group (OVG), to redefine the culinary experience for concessions and private events at one of the nation’s premiere aquariums. Mystic Aquarium, which enjoyed record attendance with over 800,000 visitors through its doors in 2023, will partner with OVG Hospitality to elevate the dining experience at the popular destination beginning this month.
As the exclusive food and beverage provider, OVG Hospitality brings an experience unlike any other with high-quality food and beverage service, catering, and state-of-the-art technologies. Features will include enhanced menu options, new local culinary partners such as Boston’s The Sausage Guy, technology to ensure faster concession lines, ordering with delivery direct to table and renovations to the Saltwater Café to be unveiled this spring.
“OVG Hospitality has an outstanding reputation for bringing a fresh and innovative approach to doing business, and we are excited to partner with them on enhancing our visitor experience,” said Susette Tibus, President and CEO, Mystic Aquarium. “Partnering with OVG Hospitality will enable us to seek and discover value through excellence and innovation in food service for all of our guests.”
OVG Hospitality’s commitment to sustainable practices was a critical factor in Mystic Aquarium’s decision to create this new partnership, according to Tibus. As part of the partnership, Mystic Aquarium will become a member of GOAL (Green Operations & Advanced Leadership), a sustainability measurement program for arenas, stadiums, convention centers, cultural institutions, and other large-scale venues, of which OVG is one of the founding partners. Industry-leading initiatives include reduction of single-use plastic, water conservation, waste reduction, and locally sourced ingredients.
“Mystic Aquarium shares our vision of providing best-in-class service whether guests are visiting as a family, group or attending a wedding or private event,” said Ken Gaber, President, OVG Hospitality and Cochester, CT, native. “Growing up here and visiting Mystic Aquarium regularly, I know first-hand what a special place this aquarium is, and we intend to complement each visit with an equally satisfying dining experience.”
With a commitment to sustainable practices and featuring locally sourced food options, OVG Hospitality offers a high-quality food and beverage experience at cultural facilities and venues worldwide, including the Seattle Aquarium in Seattle, WA and ZooTampa at Lowell Park in Tampa, FL as well as Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ, home of the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns and McCormick Place, in Chicago, IL, the nation’s largest Convention Center.
In Connecticut, OVG operates Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford; XL Center and Dillon Stadium, both in Hartford; and Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, CT.
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