Front runners to scoop tourism Oscars announced
21st October 2014
Categories: Convention Bureau News
Businesses from across the North East are preparing for the region’s tourism Oscars next month as the shortlist for the North East England Tourism Awards 2014 is announced, today.
(Full shortlist detailed below)
Sarah Stewart, chief executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, which delivers the awards on behalf of the Northern Tourism Alliance, said: “This year we have seen a fantastic range of applications spanning the whole of North East England, from Berwick in the north to Guisborough in the south.”
The tourism industry is an important part of the economy of North East England employing more than 55,000 people with an additional 500 jobs created over the last 12 months.
Sarah added: “The North East England Tourism Awards are an important platform, recognising the quality and innovation that ensures our tourism offer remains one of the strongest in the country, congratulations to all those shortlisted and good luck!”
85 applications were submitted with 52 making the shortlist, testament to the quality of experiences and services submitted from businesses working in all areas of the visitor economy.
Judges have spent time visiting all of the shortlisted businesses to determine who should take the top honour of Gold in 15 categories; Silver, Bronze and Highly Commended accolades will also be announced at a glittering celebration of the tourism industry’s success regionally on 11 November 2014 at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Penelope Viscountess Cobham, VisitEngland’s Chairman will be attending this year’s ceremony and presenting the award for Visitor Information Provider of the Year, she said: “I’d like to congratulate everyone shortlisted for the North East England Tourism Awards 2014. To reach the shortlist is a fantastic achievement. I am very much looking forward to attending the awards next month, it is such a special event for the tourism industry and no doubt the North East’s pride and passion will shine through in the celebrations.”
Winners at the regional awards will also have the opportunity to compete nationally at VisitEngland’s Excellence Awards 2015. Earlier this year, seven North East businesses went on to see success nationally following the regional Awards 2013, including St Cuthbert’s House (Bed & Breakfast of the Year) and Seafield Caravan Park (Caravan Holiday Park of the Year), both winning Gold at the prestigious national awards.
The North East England Tourism Awards are sponsored by the University of Sunderland and Northumbrian Water; BBC Look North’s Carol Malia will host the event for the third year running. Tickets to attend the awards are priced at £50 and are available now from NewcastleGateshead Initiative – please contact Joy Sanders on 0191 440 5724 or visit www.NorthEastTourismAwards.com
Northern Tourism Alliance members have supported the awards since 2012. The Alliance is a collaboration of the region’s tourism bodies who work together on projects that will benefit the tourism industry across the region. Members include NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Northumberland Tourism (representing Northumberland County Council), Visit County Durham, The North East Hotels Association and local authorities South Tyneside Council, North Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council.
Ends.
The Shortlist
Access for All Tourism Award
• Discovery Museum, Newcastle
• Calvert Trust Kielder
• Sage Gateshead
Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year Award
• Martineau Guest House, Tynemouth
• Northumbria University, Newcastle
Business Tourism Award
• Event Durham, Durham University
• Sodexo Prestige / Newcastle United
Caravan Holiday Park / Holiday Village of the Year Award
• Ord House Country Park, Berwick upon Tweed
• Golden Sands Holiday Park, Creswell
• Seafield Caravan Park, Seahouses
• Northumbrian Water / Leaplish Waterside Park, Kielder
Large Hotel of the Year Award
• Jurys Inn, Newcastle
• Matfen Hall Hotel, Northumberland
• Newcastle Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel
• Gisborough Hall Hotel
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award
• National Glass Centre, Sunderland
• Beamish, the living museum of the north
• Sage Gateshead
• International Centre for Life, Newcastle
Self Catering Provider of the Year Award
• Rennington Cottages, Rennington
• Springhill Farm, Seahouses
• Calvert Trust Kielder
• Herding Hill Farm, Haltwhistle
Taste of England Award
• Zeera, South Shields
• Northumberland Cheese Co. Ltd
• Carriages Tea Room, Bellingham
• Knitsley Farm Shop, Consett
Tourism Event of the Year Award
• Locomotion, The National Railway Museum at Shildon / Mallard 75 - The Great Goodbye
• South Tyneside Council Events Team - South Tyneside Summer Festival
• Northumbrian Water - Kielder Winter Wonderland
Tourism Experience of the Year Award
• Iles Tours, Newcastle
• Hall Hill Farm, Lanchester
• Lane7, Newcastle
• The Cycle Hub, Newcastle
Tourism Pub of the Year Award
• The Bridge Tavern, Newcastle
• The Staith House, North Shields
• South Causey Inn, Stanley
Visitor Information Provider of the Year Award
• Durham Visitor Information Network
• NewcastleGateshead Visitor Information Centre
• Northumberland National Park Centre, Once Brewed
Small Hotel of the Year Award
• Langley Castle Hotel, Hexham
• Seaham Hall, Durham
• Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa
Sustainable Tourism Award
• St Cuthbert’s House, Seahouses
• Durham University
• Sage Gateshead
• Northumberland National Park Centre, Once Brewed
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Award
• Ouseburn Trust – Victoria Tunnel
• WWT Washington Wetland Centre
• Kielder Observatory
• The Cycle Hub, Newcastle
For media enquiries contact:
Shelley Armstrong
Media & PR Manager
T. +44 (0)191 440 5739
M. +44 (0)7717 631 109
E. shelley.armstrong@ngi.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Northern Tourism Alliance: Working in collaboration NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Northumberland Tourism (representing Northumberland County Council), Visit County Durham, North East Hoteliers Association and local authorities including South Tyneside Council, North Tyneside Council and Sunderland Council forged a new tourism alliance in 2011.
The Northern Tourism Alliance seeks to develop new ways of working with local and national partners to continue the successful growth of the regional visitor economy in North East England. The Alliance is an ongoing partnership between several tourism organisations in the region which have indentified the mutual benefits of collaboration and co-ordination.
NewcastleGateshead Initiative is supported by a board offering expertise from a range of sectors and professions. We also work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and businesses, who share our ambition to inspire people to visit and to live, learn, work and invest in NewcastleGateshead.
o Our marketing & communications team works to promote and position NewcastleGateshead as a vibrant tourism destination, through targeted campaigns nationally and internationally. Our visitor information team helps ensure visitors have the best possible experience when they’re here, providing information and support.
o Our cultural programming team work with partners across the destination to bring together NewcastleGateshead’s cultural offer and deliver some of our most popular festival & events, including EAT! NewcastleGateshead, Juice Festival and the NewcastleGateshead Winter Festival.
o Our Convention Bureau uses local knowledge and expertise to help organise conferences, meetings or events in NewcastleGateshead and the surrounding area. It provides a free service including, venue sourcing and accommodation booking, to arranging transport and entertainment for delegates
o Our inward investment team helps businesses locate, expand and flourish in NewcastleGateshead, providing a range of services to make it easy to realise their ambitions for growth