Prestigious National Tourism Awards for South East Tourism Businesses

South East tourism businesses, all finalists of the regional Beautiful South Awards, were awarded trophies at the prestigious VisitEngland Tourism Excellence Awards last night. The national winners were announced via a special virtual ceremony hosted by Julia Bradbury.

Lorry Middleton, from Hovertravel, Isle of Wight, topped the ceremony having already been crowned Tourism Superstar of the Year, sponsored at regional level by ‘Welcome to Excellence’ and voted by the readers of The Mirror.

Competing with the very best businesses and tourism experiences in the country, all nominated South East businesses achieved an award, a great result for the South East region.

Gold was awarded to The Baskerville, Henley-on-Thames for Pub of the Year.

Silvers were awarded to Swallowtail Hill, East Sussex for Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year and Wallops Wood Cottages, Hampshire for Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year. Blenheim Palace achieved bronze under the international Tourism Award. Southampton Harbour Hotel, Hampshire, also scoped bronze under the Large Hotel of the Year category. The New Tourism Business Award went to Vine + Country Tours offering mouth watering Wine and Food Tours across Kent & Sussex

Fran Downton, Chief Executive of Tourism South East, commented, ‘The South East has once again proven that we have some exceptional tourism experiences that are a match for any in the country. I am incredibly proud of all the amazing South East tourism businesses and the accolades from this year’s ceremony. I hope this success will inspire others across the region to showcase their quality to the industry. It would be great for the South East to continue this success at next year’s awards.’

South East winners in the Visit England National Excellence Awards.

TOURISM SUPERSTAR AWARD www.hovertravel.co.uk @Hovertravelltd Lorry Middleton – Hovertravel, Isle of Wight

CAMPING, GLAMPING AND HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR

Swallowtail Hill, Beckley, East Sussex www.swallowtailhill.com

@swallowtailhill

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AWARD

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire www.blenheimpalace.com @BlenheimPalace

LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Southampton Harbour Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire www.harbourhotels.co.uk/southampton @Harbour_Hotels #SouthamptonHarbourHotel

PUB OF THE YEAR

The Baskerville, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire www.thebaskerville.com @thebaskie

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR

Wallops Wood Cottages, Droxford, Hampshire www.wallopswoodcottages.co.uk @Wallops_Wood

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD

Vine + Country Tours www.vineandcountrytours.co.uk @vinecountrytour

The Beautiful South Awards 2020 launched at the start of this year, has extended deadline of 20 September 2020. Tourism South East encourages all those in the South East’s tourism industry who are proud of their achievements to gain recognition at regional and national level. Entry forms are available on the Beautiful South Awards website, www.beautifulsouthawards.com.

Ends

Notes to Editors

About the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2020

The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2020 celebrate the best of English tourism. They promote high standards, helping to ensure England's place as a world-class destination. www.visitenglandawards.org

The categories for the 2020 awards included:

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award, B&B and Guest House of the Year, Business Events Venue of the Year, Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year, Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award, Experience of the Year, International Tourism Award, Large Hotel of the Year, Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, New Tourism Business Award, Pub of the Year, Self Catering Accommodation of the Year, Small Hotel of the Year, Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, Taste of England Award, International Distribution Award, International Distribution Award,

In addition to these categories are the additional Awards for Tourism Superstar and Outstanding Contribution to Tourism. The Tourism Superstar, announced earlier in the year , Lorry Middleton, from Hovertravel, isle of Wight went to

About the Beautiful South Awards

The Beautiful South Awards are a Tourism South East programme. TSE specifies and oversees the category criteria but judging is undertaken by independent industry experts. Administration of the Awards is conducted for TSE by Services for Tourism.

www.tourismsoutheast.com/beautiful-south-awards

Contacts

Fran Downton Chief Executive, Tourism South East

fdownton@tourismse.com 02380 625528

Nell Barrington, Services for Tourism

awards@beautifulsouthawards.co.uk 01278 671397