The ‘Best Of English' Line Up For Tourism Awards

6 February 2009

THE ‘BEST OF ENGLISH' LINE UP FOR TOURISM AWARDS

Short List Announced for Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2009

As domestic breaks become increasingly attractive in the height of the economic downturn, holidaymakers should look no further than the line-up of finalists announced today in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2009, organised by VisitEngland. The 43 shortlisted finalists in this year's awards showcase excellent value for money English breaks from a charming Michelin ‘Bib Gourmand' country inn and pub in West Yorkshire to a 17th century Deli and ‘posh B&B' in Norfolk, steeped in 100 years of history. Celebrating their 20th Anniversary, these annual tourism ‘BAFTAs', recognise the crème de la crème of domestic tourism and are sponsored by The Caravan Club.

The judges were impressed with the variety of green tourism businesses showcased in the sustainability award launched last year as well as the high standard of hotels and self-catering properties continuing to make huge investments. Contenders include beautifully converted medieval cottages uniquely located in an apple orchard in Herefordshire, a Norwegian style mountain lodge in Northumberland, an eco-friendly café in Devon as well as an original 12 bedroom hunting lodge in Derbyshire undergoing a five million pound refurbishment in pursuit of quality.

The winners will be announced at the national awards ceremony held in The National Railway Museum, York, on 23 April in celebration of St George's Day.

Finalists span a large range of attractions, accommodation, tourism experiences, websites and tourist information centres from historical gems such as Goodrich Castle and Harewood House, home to the Queen's Cousin, to high-profile attractions such as the famous Science Museum in London; a castle and country B&B in Cumbria offering extraordinary accommodation for families to an opera and literature festival in Buxton and an unusual Quaker Tapestry exhibition which tours the country during the summer months. A five-star secluded camping and caravan park set amidst 27 acres of glorious Devonshire countryside, which shows the improved quality of caravan holidays as they continue to surge in popularity is also in the line up for awards, as are a number of individuals who have been recognised for their outstanding service and contribution to English tourism. However large or small, all of the finalists have demonstrated excellence against strict criteria such as service and customer care.

VisitEngland Chairman Hugh Taylor said: "On our 20th Anniversary, we are delighted that there is such a broad range of exciting, high quality holiday experiences on offer in England particularly as holidaymakers are looking to take a break closer to home this year. Value for money is another major consideration as purse strings continue to tighten. Each year the judging proves more and more difficult which is a positive reflection on the rising quality of the tourism offering in England. The finalists have been chosen for leading the way in terms of innovation through continued investment whilst also maintaining consistently high quality and standards in their field. It is vital we continue to encourage English tourism businesses to strive for this excellence - and that we reward them for reaching these high standards".

The finalists were selected by a board of tourism industry judges including Nick Cust, a member of the VisitEngland board, and travel journalist Alison Rice. Also on the judging panel was Brian Richardson, Executive Secretary of The Caravan Club who said: "Once again we were faced with a really tough challenge as standards continue to improve each year. What sets these awards apart is the fact that all the regional winners are assessed anonymously by independent inspectors according to strict criteria of excellence, and we feel that the results are a true reflection of the very best that England has to offer. As a major player in the domestic tourism economy, The Caravan Club has always been synonymous with quality and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to recognise and reward quality businesses."

The 17 categories for the 2009 awards are: access for all tourism award, hotel of the year, self-catering holiday of the year, bed & breakfast of the year, caravan park of the year, tourist Information centre (TIC) of the year, large attraction of the year (over 100,000 visitors), small attraction of the year (under 100,000 visitors), tourism website of the year, the meet England business tourism award, outstanding customer service award, taste of England, sustainable tourism award, tourism experience of the year, outstanding contribution to tourism, travel journalist of the year and the Travelmail Best Day Out consumer voted award.

There is an additional award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism to be announced on the night. Previous winners of this award have included Michael Eavis CBE, HM The Queen, the Harry Potter films, presenter Judith Chalmers OBE, Sir Cameron Mackintosh and in 2007, Sir Paul McCartney and Liverpool.

www.enjoyengland.com/excellence

The 2009 shortlisted finalists are:

Access for all Tourism Award
· Elms Farm Cottages, Lincolnshire www.elmsfarmcottages.co.uk (East Midlands Tourism)
· The Hytte, Hexham www.thehytte.com (One North East)
· National Theatre, London www.nationaltheatre.org.uk (Visit London)

Bed & Breakfast of The Year
· Byfords Café, Deli & ‘Posh B&B' www.byfords.org.uk (East of England)
· Augil Castle, Cumbria www.augillcastle.co.uk (North West Development Agency)
· The Stables Lodge, Tyne & Wear www.thestableslodge.co.uk (One North East)

Best Tourism Experience
· Buxton Festival, Derbyshire www.buxtonfestival.co.uk (East Midlands Tourism)
· Manchester International Festival www.mif.co.uk (North West Development Agency)
· London Walks, London www.londonwalks.com (Visit London)

Business Tourism Award
· imago, Leicester www.welcometoimago.co.uk (East Midlands Tourism)
· The Rheged Centre, Cumbria www.rheged.com (North West Development Agency)
· ExCel Centre, London www.excel-london.co.uk (Visit London)

Caravan Holiday Park
· Park Cliffe Caravan Park, Cumbria www.parkcliffe.co.uk (North West Development Agency)
· Seafield Caravan Park, Northumberland www.seafieldpark.co.uk (One North East)
· Hidden Valley, North Devon www.hiddenvalleypark.com (South West Tourism)

Hotel of the Year
· East Lodge Hotel & Restaurant, Derbyshire www.eastlodge.com (East Midlands Tourism)
· The Bildeston Crown, Bildeston, Suffolk www.thebildestoncrown.com (East of England)
· Gidleigh Park, Devon www.gidleigh.com (South West Tourism)

Small Visitor Attraction (Under 50,000)
· Goodrich Castle, Herefordshire www.english-heritage.org.uk/goodrich (Advantage West Midlands)
· 78 Derngate: The Charles Rennie Mackintosh House & Galleries, Northampton www.78derngate.org.uk (East Midlands Tourism)
· Quaker Tapestry Exhibition Centre, Cumbria www.quaker-tapestry.co.uk (North West Development Agency)

Large Visitor Attraction (Over 100,000 visitors)
· Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire www.blenheimpalace.com (Tourism South East)
· Science Museum, London www.sciencemuseum.org.uk (Visit London)
· Harewood House, West Yorkshire www.harewood.org (Welcome to Yorkshire)

Outstanding Customer Service
· Ian Russell - Wroxham Barns, Norfolk www.wroxham-barns.co.uk (East of England)
· Robert (Bob) Evans, Bristol www.ssgreatbritain.org (South West Tourism)
· John Heaps - Magna Science Adventure Centre www.visitmagna.co.uk (Welcome to Yorkshire)

Self-catering Holiday of the Year
· Woodhouse Farm Cottages, Herefordshire www.thewoodhousefarm.co.uk (Advantage West Midlands)
· Brackenborough Hall Coach House Holidays www.brackenboroughhall.com (East Midlands Tourism)
· The Beach House, Lancashire www.thebeachhouseblackpool.co.uk (North West Development Agency)
· Noelle's Cottages, North Yorkshire www.noellescottages.co.uk (Welcome to Yorkshire)

Sustainable Tourism Award
· The Hytte, Hexham www.thehytte.com (One North East)
· The Venus Company, Devon www.venuscompany.co.uk (South West Tourism)
· The Deep, East Yorkshire www.thedeep.co.uk (Welcome to Yorkshire)

Taste of England Award
· Café 21, Newcastle upon Tyne www.cafetwentyone.co.uk (One North East)
· The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, Wiltshire www.theharrowatlittlebedwyn.co.uk (South West Tourism)
· The Pipe & Glass Inn, East Yorkshire www.pipeandglass.co.uk (Welcome to Yorkshire)

Tourism Website of the Year
· Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester www.msim.org.uk (North West Development Agency)
· The Old School, Northumberland www.northumberlandbedandbreakfast.co.uk (One North East)
· Compton Pool Farm, Devon www.comptonpool.co.uk South West Tourism

Tourist Information Service
· Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre, Derbyshire www.visitchesterfield.info (East Midlands Tourism)
· Colchester Visitor Information Centre, Colchester, Essex www.colchester.gov.uk (East of England)
· Royal Windsor Information Centre, Berkshire www.windsor.gov.uk (Tourism South East)

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

· The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2009 celebrate the best of English tourism and are in their 20th year. They promote healthy industry competition and high standards, helping to ensure England's place as a world-class destination.

· There are seventeen different categories, from visitor attractions and hotels to self-catering accommodation and caravan parks. Entries are submitted to the regional tourism partners and then short-listed to the national finals, culminating in the Awards ceremony in April. In addition, there is the national Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award and a Travelmail Best Day Out Award

· Previously the England Marketing Advisory Board, VisitEngland is legally the English Tourist Board, whose marketing activities are implemented by VisitBritain's England marketing division through its Enjoy England and Meet England campaigns.

· VisitBritain is responsible for promoting Britain as a world-class tourist destination and for developing England's visitor economy through enjoyEngland campaigns and initiatives.

· UK residents took 101 million trips, spending £16.2 billion in England in 2006. Since its launch in 2003, Enjoy England has been responsible for £450m of incremental spend on short breaks in England. In addition to national TV advertising campaigns to inspire British visitors to share their secrets of England, the current portfolio of campaigns focuses on city breaks, outdoor activities, food and drink and indulgent escapes. Enjoy England also markets England in France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.

· An archive of media releases and more details about the work of VisitBritain promoting England as a destination can be found on the new online press centre, www.enjoyengland.com/presscentre

· The Caravan Club - As Europe;s premier touring organisation, The Caravan Club represents the interests of one million caravanners, motor caravanners and trailer tenters. The Club operates the largest privately owned network of quality sites in the UK, together with a further 2,500 Certificated Locations (sites that take a maximum of five outfits). For more information visit The Club's award-winning website at www.caravanclub.co.uk. For more press information please contact The Caravan Club Press Office on 01342 336664 or 01342 336768, or email press@caravanclub.co.uk

· VisitBritain's nine Regional Tourism Partners are: East of England Tourism, East Midlands Tourism, Advantage West Midlands, Visit London, One NorthEast, Northwest Regional Development Agency, Tourism South East, South West Tourism, Yorkshire Tourist Board.

For further press information contact:
Lucy Pennington/Peggy Amarteifio, bgb communications: 020 7902 2990, lpennington@bgb.co.uk / pamarteifio@bgb.co.uk
Jeremy Brinkworth, VisitBritain: 020 8563 3131, Jeremy.Brinkworth@visitbritain.org

VisitBritain - Incorporated under the Development of
Tourism Act 1969 as British Tourist Authority

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