The Ricoh Arena in Coventry has been short-listed in four categories at the international Stadium Business Awards 2011 in Barcelona.

Chief executive Daniel Gidney is in the running for the Executive of the Year title, human resources and operations director Jacky Isaac has been nominated for Team Player of the Year, events manager Justine Hewitt is among the contenders for Rising Star and the venue's new conferencing and hotel facilities are competing for Project of the Year.

The winners of the 20 categories will be announced at a gala dinner at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium on Wednesday, June 15.

Daniel said the Stadium Business Awards 2011 are the leading industry awards for the stadium sector across the globe.

"I am extremely proud the Ricoh Arena has been short-listed in four categories on the international stage," he said.

"This further increases the Ricoh and Coventry's international recognition among top stadium executives and emphasises the high quality of our facilities and staff.

"I am delighted Jacky and Justine have been short-listed for their hard work and skills because they fully deserve their nominations alongside the industry's leaders and achievers.

"It is a real team effort here at the Ricoh because we are a small but tight-knit executive team and it is always heartening to receive public recognition.

"As well as the three individual awards, the completion of our £3.7 million investment to improve our conference, exhibition, hotel and accessibility has been short-listed as well.

"In a time when it is all doom and gloom with the economy, we have shown great faith in the Ricoh by completing this major investment. 

"We don't regret it at all because it has further enhanced our reputation among conference and exhibition organisers and the fact we have also added to our hotel accommodation and created a new entrance on the southern side of the venue is a big plus when we are holding multi events.

"We are looking forward to the presentation evening when we compete against some of the high-profile stadiums in Europe."

At last year's Stadium Business Awards, the Ricoh Arena was runner-up in the Venue of the Year ahead of the O2, Dallas Cowboys and Twickenham, marketing director Liz Cooper was short-listed in the Team Player of the Year section and the venue was also nominated in the Creativity category.