TOURISM businesses across Cornwall were celebrating last week at the 11th annual Cornwall Tourism Awards 2012, sponsored by St Austell Brewery.

Red Hotels, which comprises of The Scarlet and Bedruthan Steps Hotel, were crowned overall Winner of Winners and the luxury hotel group was singled out for quality and leadership in sustainable tourism and rewarded for providing unwavering excellence.

Malcolm Bell, head of VisitCornwall, said: “As a destination Cornwall has had tremendous award success picking up a string of top titles and we owe much of this to tourism businesses who make Cornwall’s quality status what it is. Congratulations to all of the worthy winners.”

The Cornwall Tourism Awards span 16 categories recognising excellence across the industry and bring together leading businesses who play a key role in maintaining and enhancing Cornwall’s quality offering.

The awards ceremony, held at the Headland Hotel, Newquay celebrates Cornwall and aims to promote and reward the very best in the tourism industry.

All of the Cornwall Tourism Awards winners will now go on to represent Cornwall in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards and ultimately the National Excellence Awards which take place next year.

Winners included Pandora Inn at Restronguet, which rose from the ashes after devastating fire last year to take gold in the pub of the year category, Fal River Centre which took silver in the Tourist Information Service of the year category, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall Falmouth which took gold in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and the Atlantic House B&B on The Lizard, which took silver in the B&B and guest accommodation of the year.

Museum director Jonathan Griffin said: “Winning gold means so much to everyone who works here and everyone who has an involvement in the museum. Our small team strives for excellence, doing more with very little, working ferociously hard to think outside the box to deliver an exciting museum and attraction. To have this recognised with a gold, having faced some seriously fierce competition, is a wonderful reward.”

Malcolm Bell, head of VisitCornwall, the Cornwall development tourism service, said: “The level of passion and commitment to quality has been astounding, even