[E]xcitement is building for the eagerly awaited Cumbria Tourism Awards 2018, which will see businesses from all corners of Cumbria celebrate the very best of the county’s £2.9billion tourism industry.
In what has been an incredible 12 months for tourism in the county, including a second World Heritage Status inscription, it’s been confirmed that the sell-out event at Cartmel Racecourse on Wednesday 20 June will welcome more than 400 guests – the biggest audience in the Awards’ 16-year history.
In total, 18 awards will be presented, all under the watchful eye of host Alan ‘Deadly’ Dedicoat, who is best-known as the National Lottery’s ‘Voice of the Balls’. New categories for 2018 include Culture & Heritage Experience of the Year and Adventure Experience of the Year, with the finalists chosen by an independent panel of tourism experts.
The trophies themselves have been hand-crafted by Kendal-based glass artist Jo Vincent, who has created a unique design to be revealed on the night. (See image attached)
There will also be a special nod to Cumbria’s outstanding natural landscape with a colourful ‘Secret Garden’ theme running throughout the venue.
Alan Dedicoat says, “I’m thrilled to be heading back to Cumbria to host these awards. Tourism businesses work so hard throughout the year to welcome visitors to this special part of the world and I’m honoured to be helping celebrate some outstanding achievements from the past 12 months.”
Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism, Gill Haigh, says; “The Cumbria Tourism Awards continue to grow year-on-year and the breadth, diversity and quality of entrants underlines the exceptional dedication of our members to delivering world class experiences to our millions of visitors.
“Tourism contributes £2.9 billion to the local economy and supports almost 65,000 jobs, so this event is a fantastic way to come together as an industry, as Cumbria Tourism member businesses, to proudly showcase innovation and inspire future growth and development for the sector as a whole. Good luck to everyone who has been shortlisted!”
For the full shortlist and award sponsors, visit: www.cumbriatourism.org/awards
Catering on the night will be provided by The Ilex at Holker. Cumbria Tourism would also like to thank all its generous sponsors for making the event possible.
