Victory for GTBS Members in VisitEngland Excellence Awards

Wheatland Farm staff with award

Record number of Green Tourism members win VisitEngland Awards for Excellence

The Green Tourism Business Scheme has secured an endorsement for quality and innovation after a record number of members were victorious in this year’s prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012.

Out of a total of 69 finalists shortlisted for 15 Awards covering a variety of different types of related businesses, including accommodation providers and visitor attractions, 23 of the final winners are members of the GTBS.

Overall, 18 GTBS members were presented with Gold, Silver or Bronze Awards while five others received Highly Commended accolades at a prestigious ceremony intended to honour the best businesses in the tourism industry throughout England.

A total of 392 entries for this year’s awards were whittled down to make a shortlist of 69 with the final winners announced at a ceremony on May 22 at the Athena, Leicester.

GTBS winners of this year’s VisitEngland Awards for Excellence are:

• The University of Leeds Storm Jameson Court, Leeds which received Bronze in the Access for All Tourism Award.
• A Gold medal went to Pentille Castle & Estate, Cornwall while Dowfold House B&B, County Durham was presented with Bronze in the category for best Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year. Roundhouse Barn Holidays, Cornwall was Highly Commended.
• The Business Tourism Award Gold medal went to Cotswold Conference Centre, Worcestershire; The Lowry Hotel, Manchester got Silver and Ribby Hall Business & Conference Suite, Preston, Lancashire was presented with Bronze.
• Gwel an Mor, Cornwall was awarded a Gold in the category of Caravan Holiday Park/Holiday Village of the Year.
• Michael Gore of the Best Western Premier Leyland Hotel won Gold for the Outstanding Customer Service of the Year Award while David Hall of Ullswater Steamers, Cumbria got Silver.
• In the category of Self Catering Holiday Provider of the Year Belle Grove, Suffolk and Compton Pool Farm, Devon were given Gold and Roundhouse Barn Holidays, Cornwall got Silver. Eaton Manor, Shropshire received Bronze.
• Gold in the Small Hotel of the Year Award went to Bath Priory, Bath while Swinton Park, Yorkshire was Highly Commended.
• The winners of the Sustainable Tourism Award included Gold for Wheatland Farm, Devon and Silver for Derbyshire businesses Hoe Grange Holidays and Wheeldon Trees in the Peak District. Kelling Heath, Norfolk and Ullswater Steamers, Cumbria were both Highly Commended.
• BeWILDerwood in Norfolk received Bronze in the category for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year.
• A Highly Commended in the Taste of England Award went to Opus One Restaurant & Bar, in Manchester.

"It is a tremendous result for the GTBS and the individual businesses to see so many of our members scoop the honours in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012," said Andrea Nicholas, Director of the GTBS.

"Over the last 15 years the GTBS has been at the forefront of creating sustainable tourism across the UK for all types of related businesses, from accommodation providers and experience operators to visitor attractions and conference venues. Increasingly, consumers are demanding that tourism businesses are environmentally conscious. We are there to help businesses improve services, protect the environment and benefit their bottom line without compromising on quality or service. To see so many GTBS members win VisitEngland Awards for Excellence is testament to our success."

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is now the biggest of its kind in the world with over 2,400 members and an influence that reaches from North America to New Zealand. It is the first scheme to be independently validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) on behalf of VisitEngland, VisitWales and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, and endorsed by VisitScotland and Failte Ireland.

Valere Tjolle
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