As English Tourism Week got underway, VisitEngland announced the winner of its Tourism Superstar 2013 competition, designed to recognise unsung heroes in the industry.
After a public vote, run by the national tourist board and the Daily Mirror, the honour went to Claire Preece, hospitality manager at Kents Cavern, the award-winning prehistoric cave attraction in Torquay, Devon.
Claire Preece, with Cavog the Caveman, her able assistant!
All 10 shortlisted candidates were featured in a short film on the Daily Mirror website, with the public voting online for the one they thought deserved to be crowned Tourism Superstar 2013.
Preece is responsible for organising and hosting a host of events at the family-run Kents Cavern, from concerts to guided tours.
She was nominated for the accolade by Laura Holt from the Devon Tourism Partnership, who praised her passion and dedication for tourism and customer experience, as well as her ability to exceed customers’ expectations and deliver the best possible tourism experience, every time.
"I am absolutely delighted to win this prestigious award," said Preece.
"I’d like to thank all the people who voted for me. I love my job here and I’ve got a dedicated team at the caves delivering an outstanding experience, including of course Cavog the Caveman! Kents Cavern is an innovative and exciting attraction and so important to the vitality of this region.
"I am really chuffed that this award is as much about giving a boost to the English Riviera and Devon as it is about me."
Anthony Gales, head of pperations at Beamish – The Living Museum of the North, in Durham, was runner-up in close second place.
The Tourism Superstar accolade was launched last year as part of the first-ever English Tourism Week, and was won by South Shields cab driver and tour guide, Alan Fidler.
This year’s competition focused on employees at England’s world-class visitor attractions.
English Tourism Week 2013 is designed to promote the value of the tourism industry at a national and local level.
It will see hundreds of attractions, hotels and other tourism businesses across England putting on special events, promotions and competitions to encourage more visitors through their doors, and inspire people to become tourism ambassadors for their local area.
