U.S. company to get contract for St. John's Convention Centre catering

CBC News has learned that the Delta Hotel in St. John's has lost the contract to exclusively provide food and beverage service forthe St. John's Convention Centre.

A new contract is being awarded toU.S.-based Centerplate, of Stamford, Conn., according to sources.

The company, whose website says it has 300 partnerships throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, specializes in catering services, and employs about 30,000 staff.

SheenaMcCrate,CEO ofSt.John's Sports and Entertainment told CBCNews the Delta Hotel in St. John's had a 15-year contract to provide catering to the St. John's Convention Centre.

That contract was signed in 2004 and expires May 31 of this year, she said.

Five companies responded to a request for proposals for the catering gig, which was issued in October, McCrate said.

Four of those were asked to give a presentation, and then St. John's Sports and Entertainment narrowed the competition to two companies.

McCratesaid she cannot say which companies responded to the request for proposals, but sources for CBC News say the Delta Hotel in St. John's was among them.

The hotel, previously owned by FortisInc. was sold in 2015 to the Westmont Hospitality Group.

• Fortis to sell off 22 hotels across the country for $365M

The catering contract has not yet been awarded, according to McCrate.

"We're close on making an announcement, but we don't have a signed contract in place," she said.

Several CBC News sources say the contract is going to Centerplate.

Officials from the St. John's city council have not commentedon the reports.