The South West Tourism Excellence Awards programme offers sponsors and partners a range of year-round benefits, including web links, media coverage, industry profile, communications with business, networking and business development opportunities with Services for Tourism Ltd. Benefits start when we launch each spring, continuing for 12 months until the following spring.
There are a range of options ranging from £500 to £5000. Information on 23/24 opportunities is available HERE, with 24/25 opportunites HERE - for more information please contact Robin Barker, Services for Tourism Ltd, at rbarker@services4tourism.co.uk or 07870 397438.
Sponsors & Partners to date are:
Title Sponsors
Wlldanet
www.wildanet.com/Wildanet is an independent internet service provider, bringing high-speed broadband to homes, businesses and communities.
Formed in 2017, Wildanet is investing £50 million to build a brand new network to connect many areas that are still without access to fast, reliable internet and creating many new jobs in the process.
The solutions needed to connect rural communities are often not straightforward and require local knowledge, specialist technical skills supported by great customer service. Wildanet provides this unique service with the aim of helping those communities that have been digitally excluded, benefit from fast, reliable internet connectivity.
All Sponsors & Partners
Plymouth Business School
www.plymouth.ac.ukPlymouth Business School’s Department of Tourism and Hospitality delivers teaching across a number of programmes, including Tourism Management and Hospitality Management, as well as more specialist courses such as Events Management and Cruise Management.
Staff within the Department also undertake exciting and innovative research covering such subjects as: genocide heritage; tourism and crime prevention; tourism employability; and the development of tourism and heritage related narratives. Plymouth staff have also published articles in top-rated tourism journals such as the Annals of Tourism Research and Tourism Management.
The department has strong links with industry, reflected in part by the Plymouth University Hotel School, and boasts a number of opportunities for students to study a foreign language alongside their degree, thus equipping them for the exciting world of international tourism and hospitality.
Booking.com
www.booking.comAt Booking.com, we combine 20+ years of industry experience with continuous data-backed insights to provide you with the services, products and support you need to grow your business. That’s why we offer the tools, visibility and round-the-clock support you might not get on your own.
We’re proud to be the world’s number one accommodation site for bookings. More than 1.5 million room nights are booked on Booking.com every single day. With such a large customer base, we can help you reach a vast audience of potential guests, from every corner of the globe – meaning you have access to entire new markets, all in one place
Sandridge Barton
sandridgebarton.comWe are incredibly proud to be one of the earliest pioneers of the English wine industry, with a history stretching back over 40 years. We've always strived to produce the best quality wine, from fruit carefully grown in the unique climate of the Dart Valley in Devon, mixing both modern and traditional techniques.
We welcome you to visit us, taste our wines, do a tour and why not enjoy a meal in our Circa Restaurant whilst you’re here!
Guestline
www.guestline.comGuestline gives hoteliers the confidence to achieve their boldest ambitions. As market leaders in cloud-based technology, we believe all hoteliers deserve more - more revenue, more direct bookings, more guest time, more insight, more confidence and more satisfaction. The Guestline platform is designed with this in mind.
With over 30 years of experience designing and developing hospitality software, we understand the challenges and opportunities faced by the industry. That is why, whether you are an independent hotel or a group of hotels, our fully integrated, cloud-based solutions have the flexibility to meet your individual requirements, providing a cost-effective way to uncover your full potential and optimise revenues and bookings. Join over 3000 Guestline customers globally to streamline your operation, power your distribution and enhance your guest's experience. Unlock your full potential with Guestline- your key to more!
Living Options
ouraccessibilitymatters.org/Living Options Devon is a Charity working to ensure that people with disabilities and Deaf people (who use British Sign Language) can live the life they choose and are empowered to have a stronger voice. Our charitable activities each year, include Countryside Mobility, advocacy, peer support, advice services, access auditing and disability, Deaf & autism training.
Our services are designed and delivered by people with lived experience of disability, so our employee and customer experience solutions are user-led.
We are working to ensure that our beautiful countryside and tourism sites are fully accessible and can be enjoyed by everyone. With over thirty years’ experience supporting businesses to become inclusive, accessible, disability aware, and Deaf-friendly, we can help you become more inclusive for everyone!
AGI
www.agigrass.comAGI specialise in the design and construction of bespoke adventure golf and mini golf courses, working with our clients to create individual courses that range from budget mini golf to top end adventure golf. We install synthetic par 3 golf courses, sports areas, pitches and re-surfacing of multi-use games areas, encompassing a customer focused approach throughout.
AGI also supply and install playground equipment and commercial synthetic grass for all areas. We can support the upgrading of existing play areas and construction of new ones.
BlueSoup
www.bluesoupagency.comBluesoup are travel & tourism advertising and marketing specialists. The agency boasts huge sector specific expertise & experience coupled with a refreshingly different approach. Bluesoup offers a wide range of award winning services from design to paid digital, organic search to media planning & buying.
We’re proud to have had many successes with a whole host of clients including The Eden Project, Journey Latin America, Lochs & Glens Holidays, Travel Chapter, Barrhead Travel, Cornwall Tourist Board, Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire, RHS, National Marine Aquarium, Discover Scotland, Imagine Ireland & Exodus Travel to name a few.
Talk to the specialists. We’d love to hear from you.
Made for Life Organics
www.madeforlifeorganics.com/Made for Life Organics celebrates its 20th Anniversary as an artisan, luxurious 100% Organic range of award-winning skincare, hand blended in Cornwall, supported by an exceptional training and education programme. Made for Life Organics has led the way and innovated from its inception, creating authentic organic skincare and educating spas and therapists to welcome all people, including those living with cancer.
Made for Life was the first skincare range to receive 100% organic accreditation and the first UK Spa brand to receive B Corp certification. All products are certified Beauty without Cruelty and are used in leading hotels and spas across the UK.
Voltshare
voltshare.co.uk/VoltShare provide scalable and cost-effective destination EV Charging solutions designed for hospitality venues of any size. Our unique managed solutions and automated billing remove operational strains on your staff, giving your business the freedom to have more for less. Without restrictive decade-long property leases or subscription fees, your venue has the unique opportunity to offer essential charging facilities without hefty install costs while receiving the lion’s share of charging profits.
From independent self-catering properties, boutique hotels, tourist attractions to hotel groups and large pub companies, VoltShare are the ideal choice in realising your EV charging ambitions.
Curworthy Cheese
www.curworthycheese.co.uk/For the last 30 years Curworthy Cheese has been made at Stockbeare Farm situated in the mid Devon countryside under the shadow of Dartmoor. A perfect area for grass growing with its unique climate of rain and humidity.
The milk is sourced from Dunstaple Farm Holsworthy - a single herd grazed outside in the fields during the summer months.It is delivered early in the morning after milking has finished pasteurised to make this award winning cheese. Curworthy is a full fat hard cheese with a creamy light buttery taste when young and developing into a full flavoured mellowness when aged. The curd after pressing overnight in traditional presses is then matured in special temperature controlled ripening rooms. No colouring or preservatives whatsoever are added - except salt which enhances the flavour and lengthens the cheese's life.
Curworthy Cheese is available from all good specialist cheese shops and delicatessens. It is also available from country and agricultural shows and fairs in the South West along with local Farmers Markets. You can also buy online.
Baboo Gelato
www.baboogelato.com/Baboo Gelato is a family run, artisanal ice cream maker based in the countryside between Bridport and Dorchester. We specialize in using real, seasonal ingredients from local farms. We work closely with local chefs to tailor flavours for their menus, and sell to over 200 tourist attractions, pubs, restaurants and seaside kiosks across Dorset. Our ice cream is also available in good farm shops and delis across the region.
We are multi-award winning, with 24 Gold awards from Taste of the West (including two champions); and 30 Great Taste Stars. Please do get in touch with us if you’d like to try our amazing range of flavours.
The Pets Larder
naturalcornishpet.co.uk/Using years of industry knowledge, here at The Pets Larder, Cornwall’s conscientious ethical pet shop, we have curated the very best in treats, chews, food and accessories for companion animals.
Firmly believing in only stocking the best, all natural pet supplies our range of products are all about nourishment that contain absolutely no nasties! We also produce our own range of Cornish dog treats, which include Peanut Butter for Dogs which is produced by harnessing Cornwall’s bountiful rays of sun and coastal winds in a zero carbon and waste eco factory, and crunchy fish treats and baked cookies.
Clipper
www.clipper-teas.comClipper was started in 1984 in a Dorset kitchen by a tea-obsessed husband and wife team. They wanted to share their love of great tea with a promise of ethical sourcing and natural production. The story began with just two chests of finest-quality Assam tea, sold to local health food shops and cafes.
Today there are over 150 different Clipper products, all natural, fair, and delicious and sold in over 50 countries. We’ve long outgrown the kitchen, but everything Clipper is still proudly blended in our factory in Beaminster, Dorset. This year we are celebrating our 40th anniversary and continue to produce all of our teas right here in Dorset.
Luscombe Drinks
luscombe.co.uk/At Luscombe we’re passionate about making premium soft drinks. We hand select organic ingredients from trusted growers worldwide and produce our drinks in Devon, England. Our range of multi-award-winning drinks contain soft Devon water from our own spring and freshly pressed organic fruit. Every step from sourcing, harvesting, juicing, blending and bottling receives our undivided attention.
With a Royal Warrant in hand, over 100 Great Taste Award stars from the Guild of Fine Food and an abundance of positive customer reviews, we know you’ll love them.
Luscombe, elevating every experience since 1975.
Josh's Chocolates
www.joshschocolates.co.uk/Josh’s Chocolate offers a range of dark and milk chocolate bars, over eight of which are flavoured with thoughtfully considered inclusions, gigantic chocolate buttons, creamy hot chocolate spoons and egg-squisite Easter eggs. Premium chocolate, capturing cherished moments, handmade in Cornwall.
My factory is based in four repurposed shipping containers based alongside my childhood home, Callestick Farm. I have a dedicated, close-knit team making and packing in my ‘melt and mould’ operation, combining with additional flavour essences, caramel, fruit, nuts, and ginger inclusions. My range consists of eight 100g bars, my famous gigantic chocolate buttons and hot chocolate stirring spoons. I am always looking to expand the Josh’s Chocolate flavour range so if you have any requests, do let me know!
South West Tourism Alliance
www.swtourismalliance.org.ukThe South West Tourism Alliance represents over 100 of the top industry groups in the region, from leading industry names, to beacon tourism businesses, as well as including supporting companies and Public sector organisations within the South West Visitor Economy. A true mix of the public and private sector.
We have protected important business to business services for the industry and continuously lobby for vital improvements to the region in order for all businesses to prosper and grow. Tourism creates more jobs more quickly than another business sector, and nowhere is this more vital than in the South West where tourism is the lead industry.
Follow us on Twitter @SWTourAlliance and sign up for our newsletter to be kept informed and advised of up coming events.
pkf Francis Clark
www.pkf-francisclark.co.ukPKF Francis Clark is a firm of chartered accountants and business advisers based in the South West.
We are passionate about the client being central to everything that we do and are constantly trying to exceed their expectations. Our vision is shared ambition – we take time to understand a client’s business and will work with them to achieve their goals, making sure that we provide the right specialist advice for their individual needs. We are renowned for our range of expertise across multiple specialisms and sectors, including the Leisure and Tourism sector. Our clients have one point of contact but enjoy the peace of mind that should they need advice on a specific specialist area, we have the expertise in-house to be able to help quickly and efficiently.
Established in 1919, the firm has grown to almost 1000 staff and over 60 partners across nine offices (Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro). We are a member of PKF UKI, an international network covering 150 countries. Our membership has allowed us to better support our clients both here in the UK and around the world, especially those with international and cross border interests.
South West Coast Path Association
www.southwestcoastpath.org.ukFor almost half a century, the South West Coast Path Association has been helping to protect, care for and champion the South West Coast Path as one of the world’s greatest trails and one of the region’s most important environmental and tourism assets. The Path now attracts over 9 million visitors a year and brings over £500 million into the local tourism economy.
As a charity, our mission is to help people access, enjoy and share in the amazing health-giving benefits and spectacular wildlife which our 630 mile National Trail offers. We work with businesses along the Path (Way Makers), volunteers and members to raise funds to improve and care for the Trail – a task which is becoming increasingly important in light of current climate change.
For more information visit southwestcoastpath.org.uk or email waymaker@southwestcoastpath.org.uk
Anytime Booking
www.anytimebooking.co.uk.Anytime is an innovative online booking and management software, powering the outdoor holiday market around the clock. We support hundreds of campsites, holiday parks, glamping sites, motorhome hire businesses and holiday let agencies all around the UK. Our multi-accommodation focus is one of our key differentiators in this market, along with our reputation for having the fastest and highest quality support.
Save precious time with automation, live availability and payments, intuitive dashboard and reporting, and integrated guest services. Drive up sales using our carefully selected partnerships with leading distributors like campsites.co.uk, Cool Camping, Pitch Up, TXGB and Rentals United. If you need a new website, create one with our new drag and drop website builder - beautiful results with no need to code! Fully supported from our HQ in Cornwall, our cloud-based platform is mobile-friendly and is racked, stacked and packed with all the tools a busy holiday business needs to stand out and thrive
Touch Stay
touchstay.comTouch Stay makes your guests happier!
Our digital guest books replace and revolutionise the printed guides and leaflets of the past. It’s time to put those wasted years managing Word docs, PDFs, binders, and clunky website templates behind you. Our digital guidebooks enable you to answer all your guests’ questions in a format that’s convenient and easy to use.
It works by storing your content in a single online location. Then we package the content into an easy-to-use format that guests love. It looks beautiful on any device or computer, works offline, and can even be saved to a PDF and printed.
If you’re wondering what the ROI is, it’s simple: better reviews lead to more bookings, and fewer questions mean more time to run your business. It’s a win-win.
Sunflower Social Media / Social Media Management and Solutions
www.sunflowersocialmedia.co.ukSunflower Social Media is delighted to support this year's South West Tourism Excellence Awards. Located in the South West, Sunflower Social Media supports a wide range of businesses, helping them to maximise the return from their social media.
Making time for social media can be hard. Only you can run your business the way you know how and so we create and implement social media strategies for you, sourcing content and dealing with all your engagement and community growth, leaving you to do what you do the best.
Tozers
www.tozers.co.ukTozers are the award-winning leading lawyers when it comes to park law. As legal advisers to the British Holiday and Home Parks Association for over 65 years, we are at the cutting edge of legal developments affecting the parks industry. Our dedicated and experienced team advise parks businesses small and large, throughout England and Wales, on a wide range of issues.
We offer a comprehensive legal service for both our commercial and private clients, always staying one step ahead and seeking new perspectives, which is why we are one of the top-rated law firms.
We put our clients first. We’re Tozers, thoughtful legal partners for a changing world.
Plymouth Gin
www.plymouthgin.comPlymouth Gin is England’s oldest working Gin Distillery - our craft began way back in 1793 and we’ve been here ever since. There’s no place like home and we love welcoming people to ours, so why not visit us for a distillery tour or a drink in our Refectory Bar.
Quality in Tourism
www.qualityintourism.comWorking with hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses, QiT provides the expertise and advice needed to quantify and improve business performance. From mystery shopping to quality assessment, sustainability reviews and market advice, our industry experts are available to share advice and guidance, benchmark businesses, and identify opportunities for improvement. We pride ourselves on looking at a business from the outside-in, looking at it from a customer perspective, from a community perspective, from an employee perspective and from a competitive perspective.
Helping businesses become the best they can be. We are not inspectors, we are not auditors, we are your businesses support team and your cheerleaders rolled into one.
NFU Mutual Exeter
www.nfumutual.co.uk/agent-offices/exeterIt’s our mutuality which sets NFU Mutual apart. We’re owned by and run for you, over 900,000 members, and we work hard to protect your interests. From our 295 local agent offices offering personal service to our tailored quotes you can’t get on price comparison sites, your needs are at the heart of everything we do.
Gaining accolades is one way of being recognised for the high standards of customer service and cover which we provide. We take pride in the fact that many of our general insurance products have received recognition from third parties, demonstrating our commitment to providing a comprehensive level of cover.
But we’re not standing still. Supporting our communities is very important to us. We’re committed to helping protect the environment, championing rural communities, charities and businesses through events and initiatives, and continuing to offer the best care possible
Vickery Holman
www.vickeryholman.comAs one of the most established and well respected firms of Surveyors, Vickery Holman deliver property consultancy services across the South West. With offices in Truro, Plymouth, Exeter and Bristol they deliver local expertise within the region to their regional and national clients. Regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors their local experts offer a full range of services and specialise within the leisure industry to provide:-
- Commercial sales, acquisitions as well as business rates consultancy for hotels, holiday parks and self-catering complexes
- Service charge administration and management for commercial property and holiday parks
- Valuation for secured lending, accounting and tax purposes
- Building surveying services including surveys for purchase, project management and planned maintenance and new developments.