South West Tourism Excellence Tourism Awards 2011 - 2012

SOUTH WEST TOURISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2012 - 2013

We are currently liaising with sponsors over the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2012 - 2013 and plan to launch in May 2012.  If you're interested in sponsoring an awards category or would like to be emailed when the awards launch, please Contact Us. In the meantime, information on this website relates to the 2011 - 2012 awards.

The best tourism businesses from across the South West were celebrating on 6th February at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2011-2012, in association with South West Water.

The awards celebrate the most outstanding tourism businesses in the South West, recognising those businesses and individuals who excel in the region’s top industry. The awards night took place last night (6 February 2012) at the Riviera International Conference Centre, Torquay, where 67 different awards were announced. 

This year’s awards event was hosted by well known TV presenter Teresa Driscoll, with the presentations themselves made by journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder, Senior Travel Editor of The Independent and a frequent TV commentator on travel and tourism.

Included amongst the night’s winners were regional icons such as The Bath Priory and Gidleigh Park, with a special award for Sue Williams, who manages both hotels. Amongst the attractions, Pennywell Farm’s Chris Murray was recognised for his outstanding customer service, whilst joint Golds were awarded to Cotehele and Trebah Garden.

Cornwall’s Gwel an Mor picked up the Gold in the Holiday Park category, with Pentillie Castle taking Gold for Bed & Breakfast of the Year and Penlee House for Small Attraction. Devon’s Wheatland Farm took Gold in the hotly contested Sustainable Tourism category, with Calvert Trust Exmoor winning two Golds for Access and Tourism Experience, sharing a Gold in the latter with the Minack Theatre (pictured above). Bristol’s Balloon Fiesta won Tourism Event of the Year, whilst Christchurch’s The Jetty took joint Gold in the Taste category alongside The Bath Priory.

Bodmin’s Visitor Information Centre achieved a first for them, taking Gold in the Tourism Information category, whilst the honours for Self Catering were split between Devon’s Compton Pool and Cornwall’s Old Lanwarnick. Bovey Castle made it two years in a row for the Large Hotel Gold, whilst awards newcomer the Arundell Arms took the top Business Tourism award.

The top Three Award winners at this years awards will all now go on to represent the region at the National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence later in 2012.

Chair of Judges, Alistair Handyside, said:

“Tourism will be one of the keys to economic recovery in South West England and this year’s finalists show that there is no shortage of innovation in the region. They, and all the entrants, should be congratulated for their great efforts. Their creativity, across both start ups and established businesses reinvesting or diversifying has been immense. They have given us a further platform to shout about the diverse quality in the region at a national level, where we expect to do well.”

Chris Loughlin, Chief Executive of South West Water, said:

“We are delighted once again to reward the best of the best in the South West tourism sector and look forward to the winners bringing home national prizes as well. It’s particularly gratifying to see so many businesses going greener every year boosting the South West’s emerging reputation for environmental tourism.”

Robin Barker of Services for Tourism, who manages the awards programme, added:

“Yet again the regional awards have highlighted the unending investment in the quality of the South West visitor experience. When these awards first started we often found it hard to find entrants worthy of winning, but the number of joint awards this year amply demonstrates how hard it is now to judge between the region’s very best.”

Images from Awards night are available to download from Awards Night Images 

Enter the password DEVON (Upper case)