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Finalists announced in 'Tourism Oscars'

28/07/2005

A walk in the tree tops, a day of indulgence at a spa, watching jousting at a castle or sleeping the night away in a former church - these are just a handful of the experiences offered by businesses that have made it through to the final of the East Midlands Enjoy England Excellence  Awards.

Organised by East Midlands Tourism, the region’s tourism development body, the competition recognises the best tourism businesses in the region across 15 categories including Large Visitor Attraction, Self Catering Holiday, Small Hotel / Townhouse and B&B.

Winners will be announced on the 28th September at a gala dinner at the Athena in Leicester, a recently restored former art deco cinema.

The finalists represent the best of tourism in the region and include:  family favourites such as Conkers and Willow Farm; the stately homes of Rockingham Castle and Althorp; top-end hotels such as Hart’s and Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa, and quaint B&B’s like the Old Lock Up in Derbyshire.* 

Richard Dickinson, chief executive, East Midlands Tourism said:

“These awards are all about tourism excellence so it is good to see such a strong field of contenders making it through to the final.  Visitors are far more discerning than they used to be, and rightly so, which is why we have to ensure that the experiences we offer live up to expectations. These awards are incredibly important because of the opportunity they provide to showcase our best attractions and destinations.”

 
Winners from these awards have an opportunity to go forward to the national final of the Enjoy England Excellence Awards which will be held early next year.  They will compete with the best tourism businesses from around England for the chance to be crowned ‘England’s Best’. 

ENDS

For more information please contact:
Bernadette McAndrew, East Midlands Tourism on 0115 988 8365 or email bernadettem@emd.org.uk


Note to editors:
1. East Midlands Tourism was established in April 2004 by East Midlands Development Agency to improve skills, quality standards and the value and competitiveness of the tourism industry. 

2. East Midlands Tourism works closely with five Destination Management Partnerships - Experience Nottinghamshire, Leicester Shire Promotions, Lincolnshire Tourism, Explore Northamptonshire and Derbyshire and the Peak District. These organisations are responsible for promoting their sub-region as tourism destinations, working with local partners.   For more information visit www.enjoyenglandseastmidlands.com

3. East Midlands Development Agency (emda) was set up in 1999 to bring more jobs and skills to the region and to make the East Midlands a better place to live and work.  emda’s vision is that the East Midlands is one of the top 20 regions in Europe by 2010. 

2005 East Midlands Enjoy England Excellence Awards Finalists:

Bed & Breakfast of the Year
- The Old Lock-Up, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
- Hawthorn Cottage, Matlock, Derbyshire
- Browns, near Worksop, Nottinghamshire

Large Visitor Attraction (over 100,000 visitors)
- Crich Tramway Museum, Matlock, Derbyshire
- Conkers, Swadlincote, Leicestershire
- National Space Centre, Leicester, Leicestershire

Small Visitor Attraction (under 100,000 visitors)
- 78 Derngate, Northampton, Northamptonshire
- Rockingham Castle, Northamptonshire
 - Althorp, Northamptonshire

Tourist Information Centre of the Year
- Lincoln City Tourist Information Centre, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
- Leicester Tourist Information Centre,  Leicester, Leicestershire 
- Derby Tourist Information Centre, Derby, Derbyshire

Tourism Website of the Year
- Lincolnshire Tourism, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
- Sysonby Knoll Hotel, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
- Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa, Towcester, Northamptonshire

Business Tourism
- East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
- The Olde Barne, Grantham, Lincolnshire

Outstanding Customer Service
- Alex Cu