City News

A Birmingham attraction is ready to defend its crown as one of the region’s leading tourism providers after the launch of the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards this week.

The Tourism Awards were officially launched on Wednesday 28th April at Drayton Manor Theme Park, Staffordshire by Tourism West Midlands chairman Brian Summers.  The location was particularly fitting as Mr Summers had presented the theme park with the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Awards in 2009. Drayton Manor Theme Park is also celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Debbie Bisseker from Cadbury World, Birmingham won the Outstanding Customer Care Award for going the extra mile and managing a team of 80 staff, all working to ensure that visitors have the best possible experience.

Lucy Giaquinto, Marketing Manager said, “We would recommend entering the Excellence in Tourism Awards as they are seen as the industry standard so to be recognised by this organisation carries prestige.  It also allows you to benchmark your attraction against others within the region.”

This year there are 18 free to enter categories ranging from Large Visitor Attraction to Taste of the Heart Award.  The range of awards reflects the huge diversity of the tourism offerings in the West Midlands region, said Mr Summers.

“Last year’s awards attracted a record number of entries and from personally speaking to many of the winners over the past twelve months I am delighted that the awards have resulted in increased visitor attendance and positive exposure for these businesses.

“Tourism and these awards take on an increased importance in today’s economic climate and I hope that by promoting the quality of all of our tourism operators we will see visitor numbers and spend in the region rise further throughout the season.”

This year sees the launch of the first ever tourism workshops hosted by experienced tourism judges to help businesses find out the best way to enter the awards.
 
Winners of the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards are put forward for the national EnjoyEngland Awards for Excellence 2011.

The EnjoyEngland 2010 awards saw five tourist attractions and destinations in the West Midlands win. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, in Birmingham, scooped the gold award for best small visitor attraction. Silver winners included Hidelow House Cottages in Worcestershire, Poston Mill Park in Herefordshire and Shropshire’s Blists Hill Victorian Town. Debbie Bisseker, an employee at Cadbury World, was also recognised in the Outstanding Customer Service category.

2010 is now open for entries.  Details on the categories, application forms and workshops are available to download on www.visittheheart.co.uk/excellence.