AWARDS RECORDS SMASHED AFTER EARLY LAUNCH

Entries to the Tourism Awards across the South West have been broken again, with 737 entries already received following last year’s record of 651. This includes 146 from Dorset, 236 from Devon, 188 from Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, 133 from Somerset, Bristol & Bath, and 33 from Wiltshire & Gloucestershire.

The news follows a period of major changes for the awards with new websites, shorter and online entry forms and a launch to industry nearly two months earlier than in the past. It also follows the organisers’ recent success in being awarded a Gold accolade in the Awards Trustmark scheme, the only winner of this accolade in South West England.

Entry numbers are expected to grow further, with entry into the Customer Service Superstar and Outstanding Contribution to Tourism / Tourism Leadership Award categories remaining open to judge nominations during the summer.

Co-Organiser of the awards Robin Barker says “We made many changes this year following extensive consultation with entrants and judges - and we’re delighted with the response. Feedback tells us that the tourism awards play a significant role in helping businesses achieve excellence, something that remains essential if we are to compete successfully in the global tourism industry.

“We must also thank our many sponsors who fund the year-round programme, including headline sponsors Saffery Champness, BECO Energy, Quality in Tourism and NFU Mutual. They and other sponsors will be benefiting from record visits to the awards websites, totaling over 114,000 page views over the past year.”

The awards celebrate excellence in tourism across the South West with linked schemes in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset and Bristol, Bath and Somerset. They aim to promote and reward businesses and individuals in the tourism industry, whatever their sector and size. They are free to enter, independently judged and all entrants receive feedback

The awards also represent the South West ‘heat’ of the national awards, with many South West winners going on to be nominated to represent the region in the national VisitEngland Awards in June 2020.

Full details of the tourism awards at this and the four county awards websites:

Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards – www.somersettourismawards.org.uk

Dorset Tourism Awards – www.dorsettourismawards.org.uk

Cornwall Tourism Awards – www.cornwalltourismawards.org.uk

Devon Tourism Awards – www.devontourismawards.org.uk

"Keep doing all you do, it's brilliant :) Having never entered anything like this it gave me such a boost to be recognised for our efforts. Being invited to enter made me feel I could (or was good enough), I think it was important that it didn't feel like I was paying to enter, that would have felt vain.... Everything about the awards was perfect, both times I have attended. I think you have everything just right."

2018 entrant