New Facility Partner Tops Changes At NPC As 2026 Season Gets Underway
The 2026 high-goal polo season is now underway at the National Polo Center-Wellington, and changes are now in place to upgrade facility management and hospitality services at the iconic venue.
The international firm ISS and the United States Polo Association recently entered into a multi-year partnership for integrated facility management and hospitality services at NPC. ISS North America will provide facility management, cleaning, and food and beverage services, and also manage club operations.
The National Polo Center, the epicenter for polo in the United States, is a multi-dimensional property featuring six championship fields, two restaurants and the Pavilion event space. NPC is also home to the Polo Club, a membership organization for polo enthusiasts. The USPA will continue to internally manage security, grounds, stables and polo operations.
“The National Polo Center is an iconic destination that offers unrivaled experiences for players, teams, guests, club members and the entire polo community. In partnering with ISS, we ensure that the property continues to operate as a world-class facility and sets a next-level standard for hospitality in sports venues throughout the United States,” USPA Chair Stewart Armstrong said.
Guckenheimer, ISS North America’s culinary service brand and a premier provider of dining and catering experiences in commercial facilities, will assume responsibility for dining and related services at NPC. Known for its commitment to nutritious, chef-crafted food, sustainability and welcoming, inclusive environments, Guckenheimer will enhance and update the menus and guest experience in the 7th Chukker and Mallet Grille restaurants, at catered and special events, and in match spaces.
Leading the ISS team is Xavier Roca, the new general manager and a 25-year veteran of the hospitality and food and beverage industries, including management positions at Delta Airlines and the Ritz-Carlton. Rene van Camp, chief hospitality officer, will also play an ongoing role as ISS and Guckenheimer inject a new level of hospitality at NPC.
“World-class event spaces require world-class facilities partners to support them. We are excited to be the exclusive integrated facilities management partner of the renowned United States Polo Association at the National Polo Center,” ISS CEO & President/Americas Steven Quick said. “Our focus on hospitality as the driver behind everything we do ensures that guests, members, teams, players and employees have memorable experiences from the moment they step onto the property to the time they leave.”
ISS North America provides facility management and hospitality-focused programs to organizations in entertainment venues, sports facilities, offices, airports and other commercial locations across the globe.
NPC’s 2026 season got underway in late December and continues in January with the Heritage Cup (Dec. 30 – Jan. 4), the Joe Barry Memorial (Jan. 6-25) and the Ylvisaker Cup (Jan. 23 – Feb. 22). Also in focus during the month of January is women’s polo with the Florida Circuit Women’s Challenge (Jan. 5-16) and the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship (Jan. 25 – Feb. 15).
The centerpiece of the NPC season, the iconic Gauntlet of Polo, unfolds as a three-part series, beginning Feb. 11 through March 1 with the prestigious C.V. Whitney Cup. The battle continues with the fiercely contested USPA Gold Cup from March 4-29, and culminates in the sport’s pinnacle event, the U.S. Open Polo Championship, running April 1-26.
NPC is the perpetual home for polo in America, owned and managed by the United States Polo Association to showcase the finest the sport has to offer.
The National Polo Center-Wellington is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. Call (561) 204-5687 or visit www.nationalpolocenter.com for more information.
