North East tourist attractions collect awards

Oct 22 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

TOURIST attractions across the North East were honoured last night at an annual awards ceremony celebrating the best that the region has to offer.

The industry is now worth an annual £3.9bn to the economy, according to development agency One North East, employing 60,775 people and welcoming 9m overnight visitors a year.

And the best of those attractions, hotels, events and even websites were recognised at the annual North East England Tourism Awards, which were held at the Marriott Hotel in Gosforth Park, Newcastle.

Some of the best-known venues in the region were winners, including the Centre For Life in Newcastle, which won the Large Visitor Attraction category, and the Café 21 restaurant in Newcastle, which won the Taste of North East England award.

But a number of smaller operators were given awards, with the grass-roofed Hytte, a self-catering cottage in Bingfield, near Hexham, winning the Access for All award and the Sustainable Tourism award.

The B&B/Guest Accommodation award went to the Stables Lodge, in Lamesley, Gateshead, and the Caravan Holiday Park award went to Seafield Caravan Park in Seahouses, Northumberland.

One individual award was given, to John Wilkinson of Chesters Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall for Outstanding Customer Service.

Stacy Hall, director of communications and tourism at One North East, said: “I would like to congratulate all of our winners on their success. The standard of entry was so high this year, that all of our winners and finalists should be proud of their achievements.

“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. These awards recognise the quality places to visit, eat and stay found in abundance in North East England.”

The awards are designed to showcase quality, performance and innovation in the region’s tourism sector. They are free to enter, and the winners in most categories will now go on to represent the region in the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, which are recognised as ‘Oscars’ of the tourism industry.

Geoff Hodgson, chair of the North East England Tourism Board said: “The awards have been great opportunity to recognise the wealth of talent and experience and reward people who work in the region’s tourism industry.

“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. I would like to thank everyone who entered this year’s awards and wish all of our winners the best of luck in the national awards.”

Two winners from the 2007 North East England Tourism Awards went on to win gold at the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence last year. The Sunderland Airshow was named Best Tourism Experience and The Mill Granary Cottages in County Durham was named Best Self Catering Holiday of the Year.

Winners

Access for All Tourism Award: The Hytte, Bingfield, Hexham

B&B/Guest Accommodation: The Stables Lodge, Lamesley, Gateshead

Business Tourism Award: Event Durham, County Durham

Caravan Holiday Park: Seafield Caravan Park, Seahouses

Outstanding Customer Service Award: John Wilkinson of Chesters Roman Fort

Large Hotel: The Newcastle Marriott Hotel, Gosforth Park

Large Visitor Attraction: Centre For Life, Newcastle

Self Catering Holiday: Coastal Retreats, Northumberland

Small Hotel: Jesmond Dene House, Jesmond

Small Visitor Attraction: Killhope - The North of England Lead Mining Museum, Upper Weardale

Sustainable Tourism Award: The Hytte, Bingfield, Hexham

Taste of North East England: Café 21, Newcastle

Tourism Experience – Tourism Services: Calvert Trust Kielder – for accessible activity holidays for people with disabilities

Tourism Experience – Festivals & Events: Evolution Festival on NewcastleGateshead Quayside

Tourism Website: The Old School – www.northumberland bedandbreakfast.co.uk

Tourist Information Centre: South Shields Amphitheatre Tourist Information Centre