South west tourism awards (From Falmouth Packet)

South west tourism awards

6:14pm Tuesday 30th October 2007

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Top tourism businesses are celebrating after the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, in association with First Great Western and South West Water 2007/2008, as the regional winners were presented with the prestigious tourism awards.

The awards, known as the Tourism Oscars,' celebrate the best in the South West' and aim to promote and reward the very best in the tourism industry.

Tourism businesses including attractions, accommodation and other tourism businesses and individuals were left in suspense this year as they had no idea whether they had won the prestigious Gold or Silver Award, until the actual night on Monday 29 October at the Palace Hotel, Torquay, Devon.

Three extra special awards were also presented this year; the Winner of Winners Award went to Watergate Bay, Cornwall comprising the Hotel & Extreme Academy and Fifteen Cornwall and two Chairman's Awards were presented to the deserving South West in Bloom and Burnham-On-Sea, Tourist Information Centre.

Entrants needed to demonstrate exemplary facilities and exceptionally high qualities of customer care, reflecting the demands of today's customers. In addition, it was important that the applicants showed a commitment to sustainability, recycling and the environment. Winners were also commended for their use of regional produce and investment in the local community.

Fourteen of the 18 regional Gold winners will now go on to represent the region at the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence in April 2008.

Robin Barker, Deputy Chief Executive of South West Tourism said: "Congratulations to all of the winners. Each year the judging process becomes tougher and tougher as the standard of entries increases and we are proud to say that this year has been no exception. Continual investment in new facilities, staff training, sourcing local foods, a commitment to sustainability and accessibility are major criteria for these awards and the winners should be proud that they are exemplars to the tourism industry.

We now wish the Gold winners the best of luck as they go on to represent the region at the national awards in 2008, which is an accolade that any business would be proud of winning."

Julian Crow, First Great Western's General Manager for the West of England, said: "Judges this year were again deeply impressed with the standard of entries from candidates representing the best in the South West as they strive for quality and excellence for their customers. The scope and integrity of attractions and accommodation represented underlines why First Great Western continues to be proud to support the South West Tourism Excellence Awards."

Chris Loughlin, Chief Executive of South West Water, said: "Congratulations to all this year's winners. Hundreds of tourism businesses in the South West are now demonstrating how saving energy and protecting the environment can save them money, as well as attracting new green tourists."

The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence celebrate the best of English tourism and are known throughout the industry as the Oscars' of tourism. They promote healthy industry competition and high standards, helping to ensure England's place as a world-class destination.

Great Western And South West Water 2007 - 2008 CHAIRMAN'S AWARDS Sponsored by South West Tourism www.swtourism.co.uk South West in Bloom www.southwestinbloom.org.uk Burnham-On-Sea TIC www.burnham-on-sea.com WINNER OF WINNERS Sponsored by First Great Western www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay, and Fifteen Cornwall www.watergatebay.co.uk BED & BREAKFAST/GUEST ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR Sponsored by npower business www.npower.com Gold The Salty Monk Restaurant with Rooms, Sidford, Devon www.saltymonk.co.uk Silver Lower Barn, St Ewe, Cornwall www.bosue.co.uk SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Knight Frank www.knightfrank.co.uk Gold Combe House Country House Hotel, Gittisham, Devon www.thishotel.com Silver Calcot Manor, Nr Tetbury, Gloucestershire www.calcotmanor.co.uk Silver Hotel du Vin, Bristol www.hotelduvin.com Silver Lucknam Park, nr Bath www.lucknampark.com LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR Sponsored by DataBasics Hospitality Systems www.dbsoft.co.uk Gold The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay, Cornwall www.watergatebay.co.uk Silver Bovey Castle Hotel, Dartmoor, Devon www.boveycastle.com Silver St Michael's Hotel & Spa, Falmouth, Cornwall www.stmichaelshotel.co.uk SELF CATERING HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Pavey Group www.paveygroup.co.uk Gold Compton Pool Farm, Devon www.comptonpool.co.uk Silver The Big House Co, Tone Dale House, Somerset www.thebighouseco.com CARAVAN HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR Sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group www.rbs.co.uk Gold Beverley Park, Paignton, Devon www.beverley-holidays.co.uk Silver Hendra Holiday Park, Newquay, Cornwall www.hendra-holidays.com Silver Hidden Valley Park, Nr Ilfracombe, Devon www.hiddenvalleypark.com SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Take One Media www.takeonemedia.co.uk Gold Forde Abbey & Gardens, Chard, Somerset www.fordeabbey.co.uk Silver Shaftesbury Abbey Museum & Garden, Shaftesbury, Dorset www.shaftesburyabbey.co.uk LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Tozers LLP www.tozers.co.uk Gold Kents Cavern, Torquay, Devon www.kents-cavern.co.uk Silver Newquay Zoo, Newquay, Cornwall www.newquayzoo.org.uk TASTE OF THE SOUTH WEST AWARD Sponsored by Exhibitions South West Ltd www.expowestexhibitions.com Gold Fifteen Cornwall, Watergate Bay www.fifteencornwall.co.uk Silver Chococo, Swanage, Dorset www.chococo.co.uk Silver Fern Cottage, Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire www.ferncottagebedandbreakfast.co.uk ACCESSIBLE TOURISM AWARD Sponsored by First Devon and Cornwall, UK Bus Division www.firstgroup.com (No Gold winner for this award) Silver Blagdon Farm Country Holidays, Beaworthy, Devon www.blagdon-farm.co.uk Silver Mortons House Hotel, Corfe Castle, Dorset www.mortonshouse.co.uk BEST TOURISM EXPERIENCE AWARD OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Exeter Airport www.exeter-airport.co.uk Gold The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay, Cornwall www.watergatebay.co.uk Silver Thermae Bath Spa, Bath www.thermaebathspa.com Silver Tresco Estate, Isles of Scilly www.tresco.co.uk SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD Sponsored by South West Water www.southwestwater.co.uk Gold Fern Cottage, Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire www.ferncottagebedandbreakfast.co.uk Silver Higher Wiscombe, Southleigh, Devon www.higherwiscombe.com BUSINESS TOURISM OF THE YEAR Sponsored by space www.agencyspace.co.uk Gold Aztec Hotel & Spa, Almondsbury, Bristol www.aztechotelbristol.com Silver Riviera International Conference Centre, Torquay, Devon www.rivieracentre.co.uk TOURISM WEBSITE OF THE YEAR Sponsored by E-Strategy www.e-strategy.net Gold Pennywell Farm & Wildlife Centre, Buckfastleigh, Devon www.pennywellfarm.co.uk Silver Bosinver Farm Cottages, Trelowth, St Austell, Cornwall www.bosinver.co.uk Silver Brend Hotels, 1 Park Villas, Taw Vale, Barnstaple, Devon www.brendhotels.com CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE YEAR Sponsored by RBS Streamline www.streamline.com Gold David Pollard of Falmouth Ambassadors, Falmouth, Cornwall Silver Sophie Hughes, Isles of Scilly Tourist Information Centre TOURIST INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Carrier Direct Marketing www.carrierdirectmarketing.co.uk Gold Sherborne TIC www.westdorset.com Silver South Somerset TIC www.visitsouthsomerset.com Silver Yeovil Heritage and Visitor Information Centre www.visitsouthsomerset.com

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