Businesses across the West Midlands are being urged to get their entries in for the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards.
The awards aim to promote the best attractions and accommodation providers in the region and previous winners have seen substantial increases in visitor numbers and revenue in response to the recognition they have received.
With the deadline for applications running out in a week, Advantage West Midlands’ head of visitor marketing Sam Warnock said the awards stand to provide a boost for tourism businesses across the region.
He said: “With more Britons expected to holiday at home this year, now is the time for local businesses to step forward and help put their venues on the map.
“So far this year we’ve received a record number of early entries. However we’d like to encourage more businesses to apply in order to showcase the breadth and quality of tourism facilities available across the West Midlands.”
The titles up for grabs include Best Tourism Experience, Best Visitor Attraction, Best Hotel, Outstanding Customer Service and Sustainable Tourism Award.
Winners from some categories will be invited to represent the region at the national Enjoy England Awards in 2010. Woodhouse Farm Cottages in Ledbury, which won Self Catering Holiday of the Year in 2008, went on to win gold at the national awards this year.
Owner Sue Furnival said that entering last year’s competition had reaped benefits for her business.
“The profile the regional and national awards have given us has been fantastic and combined with our new website have been a great source of bookings,” she said.
“We have entered the awards again this year to defend our crown, but also because it has delivered such an array of benefits for our business and we would urge anyone else in the tourism business to do the same.”
The deadline to enter this year’s Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards is July 17. Application forms can be downloaded at www.visittheheart.co.uk/excellence.
