Beautiful South Awards

SOUTH EAST’S TOP TOURISM BUSINESSES WIN AT REGIONAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Sixteen South East tourism businesses have been awarded the region’s highest accolade at the Beautiful South’s Awards for Excellence 2011 held today at Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey on 1 December.

The annual Beautiful South Awards are now in their 21st year and recognise businesses and destinations across the tourism industry for their exceptional levels of customer service and dedication to raising standards.  A high number of entries to the prestigious Awards led to an impressive shortlist with winners announced by hosts Sue Saville, Managing Director, Tourism South East and John Williams, Chairman of Tourism South East. 

‘We offer our congratulations to all tonight’s winners’, said John Williams. ‘Our industry’s commitment to providing the best possible customer experience and to exceeding customer expectations is outstanding.  The Award winners have shown that they are truly the best-in-class and we look forward to seeing them on the national stage at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012.’

‘The current economic climate continues to present many challenges for the tourism industry - however, the standards achieved by our Award winners this year show their determination to provide their visitors and guests with memorable and outstanding experiences,’ added John. ‘We were particularly delighted to honour Paulton’s Family Theme Park and London Gatwick Airport’ with our own, newly introduced ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ for their exceptional contribution to tourism'.

ENDS

For more information contact Dan Holmes on 023 8062 5449 or email: dholmes@tourismse.com.

More information about Tourism South East can be found at www.tourismsoutheast.com.

Photos of the event and finalists can be downloaded at http://www.pbase.com/nwp/seta.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

The Beautiful South Awards are run by Tourism South East and Services 4 Tourism.

Tourism South East is the leading membership-based tourism organisation for South East England, covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.

The South East is the largest region for tourism in Britain outside of London, worth in excess of £12 billion p.a. to the regional economy (7% of regional GVA) supporting over 300,000 jobs.

The 2011 Beautiful South Awards were kindly sponsored by Artisan Litho, Denbies Wine Estate, ebxp, eviivo, Green Business, Pavey Group, SuperControl, Take One Media, Villeroy & Boch, Vivo HR and Warwick Corporate Events.

List of Finalists by Category

Business Tourism

• Gold - The Solent Hotel and Spa, Hampshire
• Silver - Farnham Castle, Surrey
• Silver - Kent Conference Bureau, Kent
• Highly Commended – Aviator, Hampshire
• Highly Commended - Leith’s at Beaulieu, Hampshire

Access For All Tourism

• Gold - The Calf Shed - Bardown Farm Holiday Cottages, East Sussex
• Silver - Abbey Guest House, Oxfordshire

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 

• Gold - Owl and Monkey Haven, Isle of Wight
• Silver - Brading Roman Villa, Isle of Wight
• Highly Commended - Stansted Park Foundation, Hampshire

Self-Catering and Serviced Apartments 

• Sponsored by Pavey Group www.paveygroup.co.uk and SuperControl www.supercontrol.co.uk
• Gold - West Marden Farm Accommodation, West Sussex
• Silver - Hill Farm, Isle of Wight
• Silver - South Winchester Lodges, Hampshire
• Highly Commended - The Hayloft - represented by Mulberry Cottages, Kent

Best Tourism Experience

• Gold - The Livingstone Lodge Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Kent
• Silver - Go Ape! (Black Park), Buckinghamshire
• Silver - New Forest Activities Booking Centre, Hampshire
• Highly Commended - Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire

Caravan Park

• Gold - Bunn Leisure, West Sussex
• Silver - Sandy Balls Holiday Centre, Hampshire

Sports Tourism Award 

• Gold - Lingfield Park, Surrey
• Silver - Bike Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
• Silver - Kent cycle hire, Kent
• Highly Commended - Joss Bay Surf School, Kent

Flavour of the South East 

• Gold – Aviator, Hampshire
• Silver - No. 2 Pound Street – Wine and Food, Buckinghamshire
• Silver - The Wiremill (Yummy Pubs Ltd), Surrey
• Highly Commended - The Mill at Gordleton, Hampshire
• Highly Commended - Shepherd Neame Visitor Centre, Kent

Small Hotel / Townhouse of the Year

• Sponsored by Villeroy & Boch www.tabletalkatvilleroyandboch.com
• Gold - Fallowfields Country House Hotel Restaurant and Farm, Oxfordshire
• Silver - Pelham House, East Sussex
• Silver - Wroxton House Hotel, Oxfordshire
• Highly Commended - Stanwell House Hotel, Hampshire
• Highly Commended - The Lamb Inn, Oxfordshire

Sustainable Tourism Award                                                                                          

• Sponsored by Green Business www.green-business.co.uk
• Gold - Jurys Inn Brighton, East Sussex
• Silver - Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
• Silver - The Chestnuts, Oxfordshire
• Highly Commended - Englewood B&B, West Sussex
• Highly Commended - The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Buckinghamshire

Outstanding Customer Service

• Sponsored by Vivo HR www.vivohr.co.uk
• Gold - Lola Andrews - Mapledurham House, Berkshire
• Silver - Beaulieu Front of House Team, Hampshire
• Silver - Lucie Ward - Stanwell House Hotel, Hampshire
• Highly Commended - Melanie Loizou & FM Team - Royal Holloway, University of London, Surrey
• Highly Commended - The No. 2 Pound Street Team – Wine and Food, Buckinghamshire
• Highly Commended - Thanet Visitor Information Centre Team - Margate, Broadstairs & Ramsgate, Kent

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 

• Sponsored by Take One Media www.takeonemedia.co.uk
• Gold - The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Kent
• Silver - Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
• Highly Commended - Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey

Tourism Event of the Year

• Gold - Royal Ascot, Berkshire
• Silver - Beaulieu International Autojumble, Hampshire
• Silver - MG Live, Oxfordshire
• Highly Commended - New Forest & Hampshire County Show, Hampshire
• Highly Commended The Hampshire Food Festival, Hampshire

Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year 

• Sponsored by Eviivo www.eviivo.com
• Gold - St Mary's Hall, Hampshire
• Silver - Enchanted Manor, Isle of Wight
• Silver - Strand House, East Sussex
• Highly Commended - Molland House, Kent
• Highly Commended - Abbey Guest House, Oxfordshire

Tourist Information Service of the Year

• Gold - Portsmouth Visitor Information Service, Hampshire
• Silver - Thanet Visitor Information Centre - Margate, Broadstairs & Ramsgate, Kent
• Silver - Towncentric, Gravesend Visitor Centre, Kent
• Highly Commended - Guildford Tourist Information Centre, Surrey
• Highly Commended - Oxford Tourist Information Centre, Oxfordshire

Large Hotel / Townhouse of the Year

• Sponsored by ebxp www.ebxp.com
• Gold – Aviator, Hampshire
• Silver - Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Surrey
• Silver - Macdonald Windsor Hotel, Berkshire
• Highly Commended - Old Swan & Minster Mill, Oxfordshire
• Highly Commended - Pendley Manor, Hertfordshire
• Highly Commended - Tylney Hall Hotel, Hampshire

Outstanding Achievement Award

• Paultons Family Theme Park Hampshire
• London Gatwick Airport West Sussex