Visit England chair Lady Cobham and the chief executive of Visit Kent Sandra Matthews-Marsh have been recognsied in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Lady Cobham received a CBE for services to tourism while Matthews-Marsh collected an MBE for services to tourism in Kent.
Matthews-Marsh said: "I am very, very proud and honoured to receive this award which was totally unexpected.
"I have been privileged to be surrounded by amazing people for 28 years working in this wonderful industry. And this honour celebrates their tireless work which has created the successful and innovative partnerships and support networks that deliver tourism services for our visitors and our businesses."
Lady Cobham became a member of the board of VisitBritain in 1993 and deputy chairman in 2005.
She joined VisitEngland in 2009 when the tourist board was created and has been instrumental in driving forward the objectives of England’s strategic framework for tourism to maximise tourism’s contribution to the economy, employment and quality of life in England.’¨’¨
She said: "I’ve had many roles in tourism over the past 37 years and I’ve genuinely enjoyed every second of it.
"Tourism is incredibly important to our economy and I am committed to working with VisitEngland to drive forward the future growth of the visitor economy."
