[C]umbria Tourism – the official destination marketing organisation for the county’s £2.72 billion tourism industry – has revealed the winners of the 15th Cumbria Tourism Awards at a prestigious black tie award ceremony held at Cartmel Racecourse.
The evening celebrated the very best of Cumbria’s tourism industry with hundreds of tourism professionals representing businesses from around the county.
Winners were announced by Cally Beaton, a woman of many talents, including comedian, Viacom International Senior Vice-President, founder of Road Trip Media, executive coach and single parent to two teenagers
The Cumbria Tourism Awards celebrate the huge range and diversity of Cumbria’s tourism industry and are open to a whole range of tourism related businesses including; hotels, B&Bs, holiday parks, pubs, visitor attractions, events, businesses and tourism staff, which make up the county’s successful tourism industry.
Most of the winners from the awards will go on to represent the county at the Visit England Awards for Excellence in 2018.
Each category winner received a certificate and a specially commissioned award handcrafted by award-winning architectural and sculptural metalworkers Chris Brammall Ltd in Ulverston.
This year, in addition to the awards, the 2017 Bernard Gooch Tourism Personality of the Year Award was awarded to Ian Stephens, Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism, for the outstanding personal contribution he has made to Tourism in Cumbria.
The award presented by Cumbria Tourism’s Executive Committee recognises those who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the visitor economy and reputation of The Lake District, Cumbria. Recent previous winners include farmer and author James Rebanks, Paul Loftus, the organiser of the annual Fred Whitton Challenge cycling event the renowned Cumbrian chef Simon Rogan and Nigel Wilkinson, Managing Director of Windermere Lake Cruises.
Ian Stephens, Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism, said: “I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making last night such a fantastic success and came together to celebrate Cumbria’s £2.72 billion tourism industry. The 2017 winners and finalists represent the very best of what Cumbria has to offer and we should all be very proud of the outstanding product we have here in Cumbria. The range of exceptional quality available keeps us firmly on the global map as a world class visitor destination and with World Heritage inscription soon to be unveiled we need to keep up the investment and maximise the new opportunities that are just around the corner. On a personal note, I was pleasantly surprised and honoured to receive the Bernard Gooch award and I’m proud to be recognised by my peers in this way.”
Cumbria Tourism would like to thank their sponsors for making the event possible, they include: Lamont Pridmore, Out of Eden, Colourmedia, Christie & Co, Enterprise Answers, Chris Brammall Ltd, Kendal College, NatWest Commercial Banking, H&H Reeds, Armstrong Watson, Colliers International, University of Cumbria, Burnetts Solicitors, Cumberland Business, Brakes and One Cost, Ambience Venue Styling, Lakeland Chauffeurs, Campbell & Rowley Corporate Catering and Cartmel Racecourse.
The 2017 winners are:
Tourism Experience of the Year
WINNER: Bay Cycle Way, Morecambe Bay Partnership
Tourism Event of the Year
Sponsored by Colourmedia
WINNER: Go Herdwick Public Art Trail
Wedding Venue of the Year
Sponsored by Brakes & One Cost
WINNER: The Villa Levens
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Daffodil Hotel and Spa, Grasmere
Taste Cumbria Award
Sponsored by Enterprise Answers
WINNER: Askham Hall, Askham
Tourism Pub of the Year
Sponsored by Christie & Co
WINNER: The Three Shires Inn, Little Langdale
B&B of the Year
Sponsored by Cumberland Business
WINNER: The Malabar, Sedbergh
Guest Accommodation of the Year
Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore
WINNER: Hazel Bank Country House, Borrowdale
Small Hotel of the Year
Sponsored by Colliers International
WINNER: Cragwood Country House Hotel, Windermere
Large Hotel of the Year
Sponsored by Armstrong Watson
WINNER: The Swan Hotel & Spa, Newby Bridge
New Tourism Business Award
WINNER: Cliffhanger Rooms, Newby Bridge
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Cocoa Bean, Hawkshead
Sheila Hensman Award for Outstanding Contribution to Excellence
WINNER: Mel Ibbotson, Leathes Head Hotel, Borrowdale
Sustainable Tourism Award
Sponsored by University of Cumbria
WINNER: The Quiet Site, Ullswater
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Newlands Adventure Centre, Keswick
Self-Catering Provider of the Year
Sponsored by Out of Eden
WINNER: The Halston, Carlisle
Self-Catering Property of the Year
WINNER: Hart Barn, Patterdale
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Gate House, Coniston
Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by H&H Reeds Printers
WINNER: Mirehouse and Gardens, Bassenthwaite
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by Burnetts
WINNER: Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery, Carlisle
Holiday Park of the Year
Sponsored by NatWest
WINNER: Skelwith Fold Caravan Park, Ambleside
For images please click here
The Bernard Gooch Award for Tourism Personality of the Year was also presented by last year’s recipient of the award Nigel Wilkinson, Managing Director of Windermere Lake Cruises.
To find out more about the Cumbria Tourism Awards visit www.cumbriatourism.org/awards