Entries
The call for entries for the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards is now closed. Make sure you stay up to date on the shortlists and gala dinner by visiting this website.
Categories
- Tourism Website of the Year
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- Destination
- Commercial operator/attraction
This award acknowledges the huge importance of the internet within the tourism industry. Special attention will be paid to the provision of new and/or innovative facilities on your site. Entries will be divided into destination or commercial operator / attraction.
- Access for All Tourism Award
- This award covers all areas of the tourism product including accommodation, attractions, leisure and transport. The award winner will offer high levels of both service and facilities related to visitors with varying access requirements. It is targeted at those who open up access for all visitors and developed to reward businesses designing campaigns, facilities and services to target all visitors.
- Outstanding Customer Service
- The award is designed to reward exceptional standards of customer care and to promote these success stories as examples to the industry.
- Sustainable Tourism Award
- This award has been designed to reward tourism businesses working to maximise their positive impact on the environment and local area/community.
- Heart of England Business Tourism Award of the Year
- This award acknowledges the huge importance of the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sectors of the tourism industry. Special attention will be paid to innovative products or business tourism products reaching new market segments as well as upgrading, or creation of new facilities.
- Tourist Information Service of the Year
** You do not need to enter and complete this form at the moment **
Shortlisting of the top 6 Tourist Information Providers will be determined by the results of the National Mystery Shopper Survey which will be carried out by Enjoy England during the summer months.
Once these results are known, we will contact the six Tourist Information Providers to ensure they wish to be considered for the regional Tourism Information Service Award.
Following confirmation of regional entry, we will organise additional visits to these entrants. Do remember that the national mystery shop, while important, will be only one of several additional criteria we will be looking for at the regional level.
Other areas will include partnership working, commitment to excellence, investment in staff training and development, innovative marketing and good practice in care for the environment – not necessarily features which would be picked up in the national mystery shopper audit.
** Best of luck in the initial stage! **
- Taste of the Heart Award
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- Restaurant
- Bar
- Food outlet, attraction or retailer
This award aims to reward tourism businesses that produce or use local produce and who, in turn, contribute to the long-term sustainability of the local community in which they live and run their business. Entries will be divided into restaurants, bars and producers with an outlet / attraction.
- Best Tourism Experience of the Year
- Entries for this award are welcome from any tourism enterprise that provides an outstanding experience.
- Caravan Holiday Park of the Year
- This award recognises caravan parks that have boosted business by making the most of their distinctive appeal.
- Self-Catering Holiday of the Year
- Self-Catering holidays are very popular. This category awards self-catering establishments or serviced apartments that have boosted business by making the most of their distinctive appeal.
- Bed & Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year
- This award covers all areas of bed & breakfast establishments, including farmhouses, inns, restaurants with rooms, guesthouses and guest accommodation. The award winner will offer a high standard of accommodation and customer care in a homely and friendly atmosphere.
- Small Hotel/Townhouse of the Year
- This award is aimed at all VisitBritain or AA graded hotels with under 50 bedrooms, including: Small Hotels, Town Houses, Country House Hotels and Metro Hotels.
- Large Hotel/Townhouse of the Year
- This award is aimed at all VisitBritain or AA graded hotels with over 35 bedrooms, including: town house hotels, country house hotels, and metro hotels and could incorporate a range of establishments from the independent operators to the imposing flagship of an international chain.
- Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- This award is for visitor attractions with less than 50,000 visitors per annum. This award covers venues that can be visited within its published opening times and offers visitor activities as part of its overall experience. Attractions will be judged on the overall quality of the experience they provide.
- Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
- This award is for visitor attractions with more than 50,000 visitors per annum. This award covers venues that can be visited within its published opening times and offers tours and other activities as part of its overall experience. Attractions will be judged on the overall quality of the experience they provide.
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism, 2007 - presented to an organisation and/or individual at the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony to be held in Autumn this year.
In addition Advantage West Midlands will announce and present four regional awards highlighting individuals and/or organisations that epitomise the world-class strengths of the region in Business Tourism, Culture, Food & Drink and Festivals & Events.