Tourism businesses across the South West are being invited to enter this year’s South West Tourism Excellence Awards following a record year.
This year’s awards are expected to be more popular than before after last year’s regional tourism awards schemes attracted 605 entries and over 135 winners.
Businesses are being encouraged to enter at first in their county schemes before midnight on June 16. The winners will then be nominated for the South West awards.
This applies to:
Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly: www.cornwalltourismawards.org.uk
Bristol, Bath and Somerset: www.somersettourismawards.org.uk
Dorset www.dorsettourismawards.org.uk
Devon www.devontourismawards.org.uk
Businesses in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire can enter direct into the South West awards at www.southwesttourismawards.org.uk
This year’s awards builds on the success of last year’s; there is a new Guided Tour category for tours on land and water, alongside criteria changes for Hotels, Holiday Parks and Visitor Information Service. Other categories include Glamping, Self Catering, Dog Friendly, Access & Inclusivity, B&Bs, Spas and Wellbeing, Active & Sporting experience, Artistic, Cultural & Learning Experience, Cafes, Pubs, Restaurants, B&Bs, Attractions, Business Tourism, Customer Service, Sustainable Tourism & Events & Festivals.
The Awards launch follows just days after the South West’s success in the final event of the 2016/17 awards when the region had six winners and 15 finalists in the national VisitEngland awards – more than any other region (by a margin).
Feedback from 2016 awards entrants has been used to further develop and refine the awards process, with entrants highlighting that their main reason for taking part was to help raise the quality of their businesses and for the free feedback provided. This has led to additional workshops being held for entrants.
Richard Stanbrook, Director of South West Water Business, said: “South West Water Business is fully committed to the prosperity of the tourism industry and helping businesses maximise their potential, with long-term sustainability at their heart. From Bristol to Newquay, it’s clear to see the tourism industry in the South West is flourishing, so we’re thrilled to be supporting the Tourism Awards once more.
“With so much hard work, innovation and determination being invested in the region, we eagerly anticipate the standard of entries this year to be higher than ever and look forward to celebrating another fantastic year for South West businesses.”
Organiser of the awards Robin Barker added: “Like any good tourism business the Awards continue to evolve and develop and this year is no exception. Last year saw record entries as well as wide-ranging feedback, and we look forward to working closely with entrants in helping them stay at the forefront of quality tourism.”
The deadline for entering the awards is midnight on June 16, but businesses are encouraged to start preparing now. Entry is free, the programmes being funded by a range of sponsors and partners, and all entrants receive feedback.
Full details and links can be found at www.southwesttourismawards.org.uk
