VisitEngland has announced the winners of its annual Awards for Excellence 2022, celebrating the best of the country’s tourism industry.   The 19 Gold Award winners were announced at an evening ceremony on 8 June hosted by broadcaster and author Clare Balding at the Library of Birmingham, in categories ranging from New Tourism Business of the Year to the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award from the Resilience and Innovation Award to the Unsung Hero Award.   Gold, Silver and Bronze winners were selected from hundreds of tourism businesses across England including hotels, self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, glamping operators, attractions, restaurants, pubs and museums.   The prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, running for more than 30 years, celebrate and champion innovation, quality and best practice across the industry recognising businesses and individuals who raise the bar of England’s tourism offer.   Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said:   "Our superb tourism businesses offer something for everyone and the sector is one we can be proud of. It is fantastic to see so many hardworking businesses of all sizes recognised for their gold-standard contribution to English tourism and I congratulate all the winners."   VisitEngland Advisory Board Chair Nick de Bois said:   “It is wonderful to see the Awards event back in-person, giving us the opportunity to come together, celebrate and congratulate the best-of-the-best across England’s world-class tourism industry.   “From an accessible and inclusive sailing school to a family run rural glamping site and an immersive living museum, these awards highlight the outstanding quality, the innovation and the customer service excellence across our industry. All these businesses are winners in every sense.   “Millions of jobs and local economies depend on tourism and this year’s awards also highlight the dedication of tourism businesses as they rebuild, championing best practice and providing visitors with first-class experiences.”   Winners were announced in the Awards’ 15 ‘core’ categories as well as for four special awards, including ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award’, ‘Travel Content Award’, ‘TXGB Trailblazer Award’ and the ‘Tourism Superstar Award’.   The Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award went to ‘The English Period Drama’ and the film locations used in these shows, in recognition of its valuable role in boosting domestic and inbound tourism to England.   The Tourism Superstar Award, run with the Daily Mirror, was awarded to George Finlay of Matlock Farm Park following a public vote and competition earlier this year.   The Travel Content Award, recognising the media’s important contribution in championing domestic tourism, was won by Ben Lerwill of National Geographic Traveller with his story ‘Pirates and prehistory on Devon’s southeast coast’.   The TXGB Trail Blazer Award went to the Rugby League World Cup 2021, in recognition of the event’s success in driving inbound bookings through the business-to-business platform, also benefitting the domestic market.   The Caravan and Motorhome Club was the headline sponsor of this year’s Awards, also sponsoring the ‘Experience of the Year’ category.  Barclays sponsored the ‘Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award’ and Sykes Holiday Cottages the ‘Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year’ category. The Family Holiday Charity was the chosen charity for this year’s Awards event.   Tourism is one of England’s largest and most valuable industries, supporting hundreds of thousands of businesses, employing about 2.6 million people and, in 2019, generating £76 billion in domestic visitor spending.   VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2022 Winners:   Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award - sponsored by Barclays  

• Gold - Mylor Sailing & Powerboat School, Cornwall
• Silver - Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire
• Bronze - Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs, Lancashire

  B&B and Guest House of the Year  

• Gold - The 25 Boutique B&B, Devon
• Silver - Horseshoe Cottage Farm, Leicestershire
• Bronze - Brightham House Boutique Bed and Breakfast, Devon

  Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year  

• Gold - Secret Meadows, Suffolk
• Silver - Brook Meadow, Leicestershire
• Bronze - Landal Sandybrook, Derbyshire

​​​​​​​ Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award  

• Gold - Chichester Festival Theatre, West Sussex
• Silver - Pure Outdoor, Derbyshire
• Bronze - West Bay Discovery Centre, Dorset

​​​​​​​ Experience of the Year – sponsored by the Caravan and Motorhome Club  

• Gold - Mylor Sailing & Powerboat School, Cornwall
• Silver - Pure Outdoor, Derbyshire
• Bronze - All Hallows' Farmhouse Cookery School, Dorset

​​​​​​​ Large Hotel of the Year  

• Gold - The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath
• Silver - Hotel Indigo Durham, County Durham
• Bronze - The Langham, London

​​​​​​​ Small Hotel of the Year  

• Gold - Seaham Hall, County Durham
• Joint Silver - No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath
• Joint Silver - The Idle Rocks, Cornwall

​​​​​​​ New Tourism Business of the Year  

• Gold - Three Mile Beach, Cornwall
• Silver - Triple A Food Tours, Tyne & Wear
• Bronze - Rowley Farm Holidays, Worcestershire

​​​​​​​ Pub of the Year  

• Gold - The Cotley Inn, Somerset
• Silver - The Acorn Inn, Dorset
• Bronze - The Devonshire Arms at Pilsley, Derbyshire

​​​​​​​ Resilience and Innovation Award  

• Gold - Black Country Living Museum, West Midlands
• Silver - Chester Zoo, Cheshire
• Bronze - Severn Valley Railway, Worcestershire

​​​​​​​ Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year – sponsored by Sykes Holiday Cottages  

• Gold - Treeopia, Worcestershire
• Silver - Glynn Barton, Cornwall
• Bronze - Pitt Farm Holiday Cottages, Devon

​​​​​​​ Taste of England Award  

• Gold - Lu Ban Restaurant, Merseyside
• Silver - Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Lancashire
• Bronze - Fischer's Baslow Hall, Derbyshire

​​​​​​​ Unsung Hero Award  

• Gold - Adam Wardale, Middletons Hotel, North Yorkshire
• Silver - Neeshal Jeewon, Hilton London Metropole, London
• Bronze - Clive Goodwin, Ouseburn Trust, Tyne & Wear

​​​​​​​ Large Visitor Attraction of the Year  

• Gold - Chester Zoo, Cheshire
• Silver - Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire
• Bronze - Pensthorpe, Norfolk

​​​​​​​ Small Visitor Attraction of the Year  

• Gold - Nothe Fort, Dorset
• Silver - Royal Liver Building 360, Merseyside
• Bronze - British Music Experience, Merseyside

​​​​​​​ Travel Content Award  

• Gold - Ben Lerwill, National Geographic Traveller: ‘Pirates and prehistory on Devon’s southeast coast’
• Silver - Cathy Toogood, The Telegraph: ‘Forget the countryside – this Northern powerhouse is the perfect place for summer staycations’
• Bronze - Lauren Jarvis, LoveExploring: ‘Explore the New Forest’

​​​​​​​ TXGB Trailblazer Award  

• Gold – Rugby League World Cup 2021
• Silver – Visit Gloucester
• Bronze – Mike James, Savouring Bath

​​​​​​​ Tourism Superstar 2022  

• Winner - George Finlay, Matlock Farm Park

​​​​​​​ Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award  

• Winner - The English Period Drama

A VisitEngland survey says 5.3 million Brits are definitely planning an overnight holiday break in the UK during the extended Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. It will hand an estimated £1.2 billion boost to the economy. VisitEngland’s ‘Platinum Jubilee Weekend Trip Tracker’ survey also showed that well over a third, or 19 million, are planning to take part in activities to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. In addition, almost a quarter of those surveyed are still yet to decide. VisitEngland Chief Executive Patricia Yates said:” The long weekend is set to bring a much-needed boost to the industry and destinations as the summer season gets underway.” For overnight domestic breaks, the top destination type is ‘city or large town’ followed by ‘coastal town’. The survey also showed that a further 2.6 million people were undecided about whether to take an overnight trip in the UK during the long weekend. The top reasons were ‘waiting to see what the weather is like,’ ‘waiting to see if I can afford it’ and ‘not sure where I’d like to go.’

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  A VisitEngland survey out today shows that 5.3 million Brits are definitely planning an overnight holiday break in the UK during the extended Bank Holiday weekend for the Platinum Jubilee, bringing an estimated £1.2 billion boost to the economy.   VisitEngland’s ‘Platinum Jubilee Weekend Trip Tracker’ survey also showed that well over a third, 19 million, are planning to take part in activities to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, from attending a ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’ street party to lunch in a pub, restaurant or café, to watching events on an outdoor screen or attending official celebrations. In addition, almost a quarter of those surveyed were still to decide.   VisitEngland Chief Executive Patricia Yates said:   “The upcoming Bank Holiday is a fantastic opportunity for an extra special short-break at home or a day-out, enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime celebrations and show-stopping events for the historic Platinum Jubilee. From afternoon teas and street parties to beacon lighting ceremonies, pageants and parades, people are set to celebrate with friends and neighbours in royal style.   “The long weekend is also set to bring a much-needed boost to the industry and destinations as the summer season gets underway and our outstanding tourism businesses will be very pleased to welcome you back.”   Looking at those intending to take an overnight domestic break in the UK for the extended Bank Holiday weekend, the top destination type is ‘city or large town’ followed by ‘coastal town’.   The survey also showed that a further 2.6 million people were undecided about whether to take an overnight holiday trip in the UK during the long weekend. The top reasons were ‘waiting to see what the weather is like,’ ‘waiting to see if I can afford it’ and ‘not sure where I’d like to go.’   VisitBritain’s full Platinum Jubilee Trip Tracker survey can be accessed here:  https://www.visitbritain.org/sites/default/files/vb-corporate/trip_tracker_platinum_jubilee_2022_final_2022-05-25.pdf <http://link.visitengland.com/ ...>.   For information about events and celebrations across England during spring and summer to mark HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee including official events during the extended Bank Holiday weekend, please see: https://www.visitengland.com/queens-platinum-jubilee-spring-and-summer-celebrations-across-england-1   Notes to editors:  

• VisitBritain has estimated the loss to the economy in domestic tourism spending in Britain, in 2020 and 2021 combined, to be £97.1 billion. It estimates the loss from inbound tourism to the UK to be £50 billion.
• In May, VisitEngland announced the successful recipients of its Destination Management Organisation Marketing Recovery Fund <http://link.visitengland.com/ ...> to support tourism’s recovery in England. Running from mid-March to the end of June, the £1 million fund enables DMOs to tailor and align VisitEngland’s national ‘Escape the Everyday’ campaign <http://link.visitengland.com/ ...> to drive bookings of local tourism products.

  About VisitEngland’s Trip-Tracker Survey  

• VisitEngland commissions online omnibus surveys periodically in order to collect data on the number of GB consumers who plan to take an overnight trip at key times throughout the year.
• In this Platinum Jubilee edition, the survey was carried out in an online survey by Kantar TNS with a representative sample size of 1255 adults over the age of 16 years old in Great Britain.
• The fieldwork took place between 19th –23rd May 2022.
• Trip volumes are based on an adult (16+) population of 52.9 Million in GB (Office of National Statistics)
• For the full report visit our Bank Holiday Trip-Tracker page <http://link.visitengland.com/ ...>

From July 1 2022, L’Odyssey will operate a twice weekly service to the Normandy seaside town of Deauville. The flights depart London City Airport every Friday, with the return flight landing in the heart of London every Sunday – convenient for a weekend stay. This will be the only direct flight to Deauville from the UK. Deauville is a hugely popular domestic holiday spot in France. L’Odyssey will operate a full-service flight on a SAAB 340B, which has been reconfigured with 27 seats. Passengers will receive up to 30 kg baggage allowance as well as an in-flight snack. London City’s Head of Aviation, Anne Doyere said: “Deauville is an undiscovered gem for British holidaymakers and it has never been so easy to get there thanks to this new service from L’Odyssey.”

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About 7.4 million Britons are set to enjoy a staycation for the Easter weekend, according to VisitEngland’s Easter Trip-Tracker survey. It results in an estimated £1.8 billion boost to the economy, it says. This is on par with the pre-Civid Trip-Tracker figures for Easter 2019, which were the highest since the survey began. It’s a significant increase on 2018 when 4.8 million Brits were planning an overnight holiday trip for the long weekend. VisitBritain/VisitEngland Deputy Chief Executive Patricia Yates said: “It is great to see so many people are planning a holiday at home for the Easter weekend, getting out and exploring here on our doorstep.” “This is the first Easter since 2019, pre-pandemic, that the industry has been able to fully trade and the long weekend will be critical in providing businesses and destinations with much needed cash-flow.” Of those definitely planning an overnight trip in England during Easter, the majority were planning a short-break of one-to-three nights. The survey also showed that a further 3.4 million people were undecided about whether to take an overnight holiday trip in the UK during the Easter weekend. The top reasons were ‘waiting to see if I can afford it’ followed by ‘waiting to see what the weather is like’ and ‘not sure where I’d like to go.’ Looking at day-trips in England, almost of a quarter of those surveyed were definitely planning one during the Easter weekend. VisitEngland ramped up its domestic marketing last month, launching the next phase of its ‘Escape the Everyday’ campaign, to encourage short-breaks to English cities this spring and early summer. VisitBritain has estimated the loss to the economy in domestic tourism spending in 2020 and 2021 combined, to be more than £97 billion.

The waiting is over. The winners of the 16th TravelMole UK Web Awards have been unveiled. At a ceremony held at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden on Tuesday 29 March, we welcomed over 150 members of the UK travel industry to celebrate achievements in innovation, design and technology within the UK travel and tourism over the past two years. The Awards are especially meaningful this year as the industry has had to rely heavily on digital talent and innovation to stay relevant throughout the pandemic. Communication with staff, customers, suppliers and partners has been cornerstones of success. The TravelMole Awards have recognised and rewarded those who have shown the highest level of commitment and innovation. Congratulations to all the winners. View the winners list   Best Attraction Website sponsored by Guanxi Tiqets Best Cruise Website sponsored by British Columbia Royal Caribbean International Best Digital Campaign for Food and Drink Tourism sponsored by babble VisitBritain Best Hotel Website sponsored by American Tours International AMR Collection Best Industry Professional Services Website sponsored by Gemini Print Group UKinbound Best Influencer Campaign sponsored by Alabama Visit Jersey Best Sports Tourism Website sponsored by the British Travel Awards Sportsbreaks.com Best Tour Operator Website sponsored by Traveltrex Intrepid Group Best Tourist Board Website sponsored by Travel Connection Group VisitMalta Best Transportation Website sponsored by London Transport Museum LNER Best Travel Agency Website sponsored by Jamaica Hays Travel Best Travel Deals and Comparison Site sponsored by Casa de Campo Travelzoo Best Use of Digital to Support Diversity in Travel and Tourism sponsored,by age UK The Treadright Foundation Best use of Digital to Support Sustainability in Travel and Tourism sponsored by LNER VisitScotland Best Use of Social Media sponsored by City Experiences Wizz Air Best Use of Video sponsored by Aviatrix Lake District Country Hotels Best Webinar Series sponsored by Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership UKinbound Best Wholesale Booking Website sponsored by Polish Tourism Organisation Stuba Digital Campaign of the Year sponsored by Atlantic Canada Visit Northumberland   With special thanks to our awards host and after party sponsors

VisitBritain will welcome 50 international travel trade buyers for a series of educational visits across Britain. The trade visits, starting Monday 14 March, are a mix of three to five day itineraries to destinations across England, Wales and Scotland. They give international buyers the chance to experience the latest tourism products. Buyers from the UK’s three largest inbound tourism markets, the US, France and Germany, are attending as well as from Canada, the Netherlands, the Nordics, Italy and Spain. VisitBritain Deputy CEO Patrica Yates said:“We are delighted to be reconnecting international travel buyers with local destinations, highlighting the tourism products on offer.” “Working with the international trade, ensuring they are ready to sell Britain, is crucial to driving back bookings and spending. We also want to broaden travel itineraries, encouraging visitors to stay longer and explore further.” Buyers will learn about VisitBritain’s £10 million GREAT Britain marketing campaign ‘Welcome to Another Side of Britain,’ with a spotlight on cities, hit hard by the absence of international visitors and their spending. There will also be an overview on this year’s landmark events including HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the ‘Unboxed’ events across the UK. All itineraries include London with 11 buyers from the US heading to Devon and Cornwall and nine Canadian buyers to the West Midlands, as the region prepares to host the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Six buyers from France will visit Kent and six German buyers will visit The Cotswolds. Four buyers from the Nordics will travel to Northern England and the Scottish Borders, four from the Netherlands will go to Wales and 10 buyers from Italy and Spain will visit Scotland. The educational visits come as VisitBritain also gears up to host its flagship global trade event ExploreGB Virtual from 21 to 25 March. VisitBritain’s latest forecast for 2022 estimates 21.1 million inbound visits to the UK, which is 52% of 2019 levels. Inbound tourism was worth more than £28 billion to the UK economy in 2019, its third largest service export.

  The appreciation of local green and natural spaces has increased significantly particularly during lockdown as there is a scientifically proven benefit on well-being when time is spent in more natural environments. Cities all over the world are creating green spaces for their residents* by making space for micro forests and planting in city centres. Even the smallest urban green space can be an essential habitat for local species and increase biodiversity. We’ve rounded up British destinations that are bringing nature back into the urban environment across the nation.  

London

  London’s highest public green space, the Sky Garden welcomes visitors to 360-degree views of the city’s skyline from the verdant landscaped terraces on the 35th floor of the building, also called the ‘Walkie Talkie’ due to the distinctive shape on the skyline. From Tuesday to Saturday DJ nights fill up the gardens with sound and light while visitors can enjoy sundowner cocktails with views over the city to the horizon.   St. Ermin's Hotel in Westminster welcomes more than just its regular hotel guests as the roof of the hotel has beehives and nest boxes which attract a wide variety of bees in addition to lacewings, ladybirds, earwigs, woodlice and spiders. Hotel guests can watch them from behind glass on the third floor of the hotel and engaging introduction courses to beekeeping are offered to learn more about apiculture.  

Manchester

  Kampus is a lush and wild green space in the heart of the city of Manchester, a must visit garden neighbourhood with its own secret streets, gardens and terraces, housing some of the city’s best independent food and drink. Two of the highlights are Bread Flower, a bakery and florist in one, known for their delicious bagels and the family run business Nell’s bakes NYC inspired pizza out of local ingredients.   The beautiful Ivy Roof Garden in Manchester is a real hidden gem and the perfect spot to enjoy some delicious seasonal dishes and an array of great cocktails. Covered by a glass roof, the plants, flowers, foliage and colourful fabrics create an all-year-round green space with cosy atmosphere.  

Liverpool

  The contemporary arts centre Bluecoat is not only worth a visit for its dynamic exhibition program, but also for their beautiful communal garden courtyard, a peaceful haven offering the perfect spot to relax under the trees or soak up the sun. Bluecoat’s gardeners have created a diverse eco garden by planting a wide variety of plants.   Sefton park, in the South East of the city is a 200-acre natural landscaped park within easy reach of the city centre. Visit in the springtime to see a host of golden daffodils and spring blossom or throughout the year. The Palm House glasshouse has a collection of plants from all over the world and hosts events including magical concerts, club nights and yoga sessions.  

Bristol

  Ten minutes from the city centre, visitors can find the Ashton Court Estate, an 850 acre park with trails for mountain biking, disco golf and a wide range of activities. The Estate also has a large herd of deer which roam in full view to create a magical backdrop at twilight. Every August, the iconic Bristol Balloon Fiesta takes place in the park attracting visitors from all around the world. For those looking for a real adventure, hot air balloon experiences are offered all year round to see another side of the city and the South West from above.  

Brighton

  One Garden Brighton was designed by the landscape architect Dominic Cole who also designed the Eden Project and combines heritage sites with modern landscape innovation. Traditional fruit and vegetable crops as well as contemporary flower gardens have been planted and the venue hosts a diverse range of events including live music, markets and workshops. The onsite restaurant’s seasonal menu is inspired and supplied by the garden’s produce.   The garden of the Royal Pavilion is a wonderful public green space in the centre of Brighton. Organic principles were followed when it was created with native plants included to nourish biodiversity in the heart of the city and offer a haven for wildlife full with butterflies, bees and many different types of birds. It is the perfect spot for a picnic and people watching in the grounds of the unique and ornate Royal Pavilion.  

Birmingham

  PoliNations is one of the 10 UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK projects. ‘Plant Up’ in Birmingham (2 – 18 September) as part of PoliNations will see Birmingham’s Victoria Square transformed into a forest garden, host to a vibrant and spectacular free events programme, situated in an oasis of thousands of plants and flowers. Innovative super-trees will be fed by rainwater and create electricity using wind power. Installations will include music from around the world, light shows and a grand finale with confetti, light shows and live music from British up and coming artists.  

Edinburgh

  Situated in the outskirts of Edinburgh, the Secret Herb Garden is a green oasis where visitors can learn about the important role that herbs and nature play in our daily lives. The Café & Bistro offer an opportunity to drink and dine among grapevines, fruit trees and herbs in a beautiful glass house all year round. The seasonal menu is inspired by and curated from the fresh produce grown on-site.   PoliNations, one of the 10 UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK projects, is previewed in Edinburgh between 6 - 14 August. ‘Mother Tree’ on George Street will host nine days of performance under the canopy of a 40-foot architectural pop-up tree. Creative local artist performances will take place in the magical space created by the tree presented in partnership with the Assembly Festival.  

Glasgow

  Kelvingrove Park is a short walk from centre and located on the river Kelvin right next to the University of Glasgow. The park was built to create a recreation and relaxation spot for the people in Glasgow. The park is home to many animals such as red foxes, otters and a huge variety of birds. Visitors can find several cafés, shops, art galleries, a skate park and the magnificent museum in the beautiful grounds of the Park.  

Cardiff

  Bute Park, the green heart of the city, is walking distance from the centre behind the castle full of wildlife and a wide variety of plants. The park hosts many of Cardiff’s celebrations and events. This summer, from the 29th to 31st of July the park will be hosting ‘Adventure Cinema’, the UK’s largest touring outdoor cinema when visitors can bring their own picnic and enjoy a movie performance surrounded by nature under the stars.

 

VisitBritain has announced a new fund for destination management companies (DMCs) and inbound tour operators to support building back demand for Britain. The £300,000 Destination Management Company and Inbound Tour Operator Amplification and Distribution Fund is open to eligible DMCs and inbound tour operators. They can apply for grant funding to develop and market tourism to Britain, and working with international tour operators to dial-up promotion in their 2022 programmes. VisitBritain is seeking DMCs and inbound tour operators who can develop and market new Britain itineraries, with a focus on extending the tourism season, and see these incorporated in to the 2022 sales effort of international tour operators in the fund's target markets of France, Germany and The United States. VisitBritain Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: "We are very pleased to announce this new grant funding, in response to a clear ask from the industry, to support DMCs and inbound tour operators at a critical time in the sector's recovery." "Our priority is building back demand and visitor spending for those most likely to visit in 2022, and this fund will support the travel trade to sell Britain, driving immediacy to visit and bookings." DMCs and inbound tour operators who meet the qualifying eligibility criteria can apply for individual grant awards between £20,000 and £40,000 in one of the two application categories, relative to their 2019 financial turnover of sales of holiday packages to Britain. Applications are open until 13 January for activity to run from February to June 2022, which is a key booking period for the fund's target markets.