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One North East has announced the finalists for this year’s North East England Tourism Awards, which reward the leading individuals, businesses and attractions that are contributing to the region’s thriving tourism industry.
More than 40 tourism businesses from across the region, large and small, will now be competing for the coveted award. The list includes accommodation providers and attractions from Guisborough to Berwick-Upon-Tweed and from Weardale to Tynedale.
Events such as the Bupa Great North Run, which attracts in excess of 50,000 participants every year, and five-star Seaham Hall Hotel & Serenity Spa are just a few of the fantastic businesses who have been named as finalists.
Winners of the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for each of the 15 categories will be revealed at a special ceremony at The Hilton, NewcastleGateshead on Thursday October 15th 2009 at 7pm. All the winners will then go on to represent the region at the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence next year.
This year’s awards received a record number of entries with almost 150 businesses entering categories ranging from the Outstanding Customer Service Award; Business Tourism of the Year Award and Taste of North East England. And more than half of those are from businesses that are entering the awards for the first time this year.
Judged by a range of senior industry experts as well as a ‘mystery shopper’ independent assessment, nominees are required to demonstrate high standards of excellence in fields including customer service, training, accessibility and sustainability.
Margaret Fay, chairman at One North East said: “North East England has a range of high quality tourism businesses and the tourism awards are a fantastic way for a business to demonstrate that they are the best of the best. The standard and diversity of the entries this year is exceptionally high and it is set to be an exciting night for everyone.
“Our region is home to some of the best tourism businesses in the UK and for some of them this will be the opportunity they need to put their business and North East England on the map.”
Tourism is a major part of the region’s economy. It is worth almost £4bn to the local economy and employs just over 60,000 people.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
