Stratford among first tourism award winners
In all there were 13 prizes handed out at the inaugural awards ceremony at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on Thursday night.
Peter Burns, president of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, which organised the awards with Quidem, the owner of Touch FM stations and Rugby FM, said: “It was wonderful to celebrate those organisations and people that make a massive contribution to our leisure, tourism and cultural sector.
“Not only is that vital to the wellbeing of our city and our county, it is also crucial to our local economy.
“It’s right that we celebrate this sector and the work done to attract visitors (locally, nationally and internationally), to keep them here and to get them spending their money here.
“I am very proud of this region’s heritage and many of the attractions here are known the world over but there were also some less well-known names on the shortlist and I am pleased that they were in the spotlight too because it is the diverse mix that makes what we have to offer so special.”
Lady Cobham, the chair of VisitEngland, was the special guest on the night.
She said: “Coventry and Warwickshire is home to an outstanding collection of arts, theatre, music and cultural venues.
"Visitors can delve into history and heritage that would rival any destination, from museums to grand castles, cathedrals, abbeys and stately homes, exploring remnants of Roman, Elizabethan or Victorian eras.
“Tourism in Coventry and Warwickshire is worth over £250 million in spend to the local economy – and given some of the exciting product, events and celebration on offer, I’m sure everyone can see why.”
The full list of winners:
Best Guest House: Avonlea Guest House, Stratford.
Best Hotel: Coombe Abbey, Coventry.
Best Experience: Fargo Village, Coventry.
Best Pub: The Merchants Inn, Rugby.
Best Restaurant: The Cross in Kenilworth.
Best Venue (music, theatre, arts): The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.
Business Tourism Award: Woodland Grange Meeting and Conference Centre, Leamington.
Customer Service Award: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford.
History and Heritage Award: Coventry Transport Museum.
Kids and Family Award: Warwick Arts Centre.
Bright Idea Award: The MAD (Mechanical, Arts and Design) Museum. Stratford.
Culture Award: Royal Shakespeare Company and Warwick Arts Centre’s Mead Gallery.
Tourism Event of teh Year: Godiva Festival, Coventry.
Three special Global Icon awards were handed to the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), the Ricoh Arena and Coventry Cathedral while the Ricoh’s Alan Diaz also picked up a special Rising Star Prize.
Pictured:
Coventry Cathedral: The Reverend Cannon Stephen Fielding with Steve Orchard of Quidem
Ricoh Arena: David Armstrong with Steve Orchard of Quidem
RSC: Sara Aspley with Steve Orchard of Quidem
