News
Regional Tourism "Oscars" Open for Entry
The Heritage Motor Centre - 2007 tourism 'Oscar' winner. L-r Emma Sharman, Heritage Motor Centre, Brian Summers, Chairman, Tourism West Midlands, Shelia Cook, Heritage Motor Centre.
The search is on to find the best tourism experiences in the region as entries open for the 2008 Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards. Tourism accommodation, venues, services and attractions are invited to enter the prestigious awards, which recognise excellence and reward achievement. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner ceremony later in the year.
There are 15 categories to enter ranging from 'Bed & Breakfast of the Year' and 'Small Visitor Attraction of the Year', to 'Outstanding Customer Service' and 'Tourism Website of the Year'. Each category will have three winners - Gold, Silver and Commended and each "Gold Award" category winner will be entered automatically for the national Enjoy England Excellence in Tourism Awards 2009 - the highest accolade in English tourism.
New for 2008 is the 'Access for All Tourism Award' recognising tourism businesses that go the extra mile to provide high levels of service and facilities for all types of visitor, particular those with access requirements. Changes have also been made to the entry criteria for the Large and Small Hotel of the Year categories, which are now open to all hotels with an official VisitBritain or AA star rating.
The awards are supported by Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands, through Tourism West Midlands (TWM) - the strategic tourism board. TWM Chairman, Brian Summers, said, "The Heart of England - The West Midlands Region Excellence in Tourism Awards are devised to recognise and reward outstanding tourism businesses and individuals that help make the region so attractive to visitors. The Awards Ceremony later in the year is an opportunity to celebrate the very best in regional tourism, and industry that contributes £6 billion a year to the West Midland's economy."
Winning is a huge accolade and winners benefit from increased media exposure and marketing. 2007 regional winner, Emma Sharman, Marketing Executive at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire, went on to win the national Silver Award for 'Business Tourism Award of the Year'. She says "We were very proud to have our conferencing facilities recognised at a regional and national level and against such stiff competition." She added "The Excellence in Tourism Awards are a fantastic opportunity for smaller venues to show what great things they can achieve."
Entries can be made from tourism businesses and organisations located in Birmingham, The Black Country, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.
Closing date for entries is 11 July 2008.