Award Categories

Unsung Hero Award (VE)
Recognises an individual working or volunteering for a tourism business who deserves to be applauded for their work and commitment to the industry. This award aims to celebrate those who quietly uphold the industry’s success, but whose contributions often go unrecognised. It is not generally intended for senior leadership, business owners or those already in-high profile roles.

Business Events Venue of the Year (VE)
Recognises business events venues that demonstrate an excellent understanding of the market, exceed the expectations of their clients and have a strategic plan for future development within this area, with clear goals.

Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
Recognises providers of truly memorable and immersive tourism events and festivals that are making a contribution to the visitor economy with a significant proportion of business generated by people visiting from outside the local area.  Events could include festivals, fairs, carnivals, shows or celebrations. They can be paid entry or free but should demonstrate innovation and distinctiveness. The event must take place between 1 Sept 2025 and 31 Aug 2026

Wedding Venue of the Year
Recognises wedding venues that attract visitors to the region and demonstrate an excellent understanding of the market, exceeding the expectations of their clients.

Access and Inclusive Tourism Award (VE)
Recognises tourism businesses that excel in providing an inclusive customer experience, particularly for those with accessibility requirements.

Dog Friendly Business of the Year
Recognises providers of truly memorable experiences for dogs and their human companions.

International Tourism Awards (VE)
Recognises tourism businesses providing unforgettable visitor experiences for international visitors and attention to detail in all areas of the business.

New Tourism Business Award (VE)
Recognises high performing new tourism businesses, demonstrating excellent understanding of their market, exceeding the expectations of their customers with clear plans for future development.  Businesses must have been trading for a minimum of three months and maximum of two years when the awards open.

Regenerative Tourism Award (VE)
Recognises tourism businesses that work to increase the positive impact of tourism by aiming to leave a place better than before; demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability and championing a regenerative approach through environmental initiatives such as using renewable energy and/or rewilding projects, or through social initiatives such as community engagement programmes.

Unsung Hero Award (VE)
Recognises an individual working or volunteering for a tourism business who deserves to be applauded for their work and commitment to the industry. This award aims to celebrate those who quietly uphold the industry’s success, but whose contributions often go unrecognised. It is not generally intended for senior leadership, business owners or those already in-high profile roles.

B&B and Guest House of the Year (VE)
Recognises bed and breakfasts, guest houses, inns with rooms or other similar serviced accommodation businesses that provide fabulous service and create great memories for their guests.

Camping & Caravanning Park of the Year (VE Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year)
Recognises parks & sites that provide exceptional guest experiences across static vans, tents & touring pitches and more.

Glamping Business of the Year (VE Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year)
Recognises businesses that provide exceptional guest experiences across glamping sites, shepherd’s huts and more.

Holiday Park of the Year (VE Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year)
Recognises holiday parks, sites and villages that provide exceptional guest experiences across static vans, touring pitches and more with a wide range of facilities and entertainment making the park self-contained.

Large Hotel of the Year (VE)
Recognises large full-service hotels that provide exemplary service, a top-quality food offering and a stay that guests will remember for years to come.

Self Catering Accommodation of the Year (VE)
Recognises self catering accommodation businesses that provide the highest quality holidays and help to create fabulous memories for all their guests. This category is for businesses whose main offer is self catering accommodation.  A business with multiple properties across different locations is not eligible to apply in its entirety; this includes agencies. However, an application may be completed for a specific location (on a single site) if it is clearly identified within any marketing e.g. website.  Large self catering accommodation complexes (eg with chalets and lodges) with a range of facilities and activities should apply for the Glamping or Holiday Park of the Year as appropriate.

Small Hotel of the Year (VE)
Recognises small to medium serviced accommodation businesses that offer a fantastic welcome, memorable guest experiences and the highest standards in everything they do. (Usually offers between 12 and 35 bedrooms. However, serviced accommodation businesses with fewer than 12 or more than 35 bedrooms can apply if they consider themselves appropriate for this category).

Active or Learning Experience of the Year (VE Experience of the Year)
Recognises providers of memorable and immersive activities for visitors to participate in, from cooking masterclasses to woodland nature tours, please note each application must relate to one named experience only.

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year (VE)
Recognises large visitor attractions that provide truly memorable visitor experiences and demonstrate excellence across every aspect of the business.(Attracts 75,000 visitors or more per year or employs more than 10 full-time equivalent members of staff).

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year (VE)
Recognises small visitor attractions that leave visitors with lasting memories and excel in customer service. (Attracts 75,000 visitors or fewer per year or employs 10 or fewer full-time equivalent members of staff).

Spa and Wellbeing Experience of the Year (VE Experience of the Year) 
Recognises providers of memorable and immersive experiences or activities for visitors to participate in.  Entries are welcome from spas, yoga breaks, health retreats, etc whether standalone or part of another business, each application must relate to one named experience only.

Café/Tea Room of the Year (VE Taste of England)
Recognises businesses within the tourism industry that offer outstanding cuisine, innovative service and excellence throughout their entire operation. Food service businesses including cafés, tea rooms, coffee shops.

Casual Dining Award (VE Taste of England)
Recognises businesses within the tourism industry that offer outstanding cuisine, innovative service and excellence throughout their entire operation and offers a casual style of service ie diners, pizza restaurants, fish and chip restaurants, grills etc.

Pub of the Year (VE)
Recognises pubs that make a significant contribution to tourism in their area, with a unique offering, fabulous atmosphere, excellent service and is a destination in its own right.

Restaurant of the Year (VE Taste of England)
Recognises businesses within the tourism industry that offer outstanding cuisine, innovative service and excellence throughout their entire operation and will offer a more formal style of service ie restaurants, bistros, hotel restaurants etc.