Visit England announces Kent Wildlife Trust in shortlist for Awards for Excellence finalists for 2024

VisitEngland has announced the finalists who will go forward to compete for the tourism industry’s annual national Awards for Excellence.

Kent Wildlife Trust has been named as a finalist at the VisitEngland Awards.

The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence champion the very best of England’s tourism industry celebrating quality, innovation, best practice and exceptional customer service.

The 48 finalists, announced following a rigorous judging process by handpicked tourism industry experts, now go on to compete in 15 core categories at the national awards, with the Caravan and Motorhome Club announced as headline sponsor. 

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said:

“I am always impressed by the tourism businesses who make it onto our list of finalists with their innovative approaches to ensuring people have the most amazing experiences whilst delivering outstanding customer service across England.  I congratulate all the finalists and wish them the very best of luck.”

The awards’ categories range from ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ and ‘Small Hotel of the Year’ to ‘New Tourism Business of the Year’ and ‘Pub of the Year’.

Applications to the awards were put forward for judging from businesses including hotels, self-catering accommodation providers, B&Bs, glamping operators, visitor attractions, restaurants, pubs and museums.

In addition to the 15 core categories, four special awards are also being presented including an ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award’, a ‘Travel Content Award’, the ‘Tourism Superstar Award’ and a ‘TXGB Trailblazer Award’.

All finalists are invited to attend the national awards ceremony, this year being held at Rum Warehouse at The Titanic Hotel Liverpool on 5 June, where Gold, Silver and Bronze winners will be announced at the black tie event. The Family Holiday Charity is the chosen charity for this year’s event.

This year’s Awards aligned with 15 local competitions from across England with winners automatically put forward for the national awards.

Tourism is one of England’s largest and most valuable industries, supporting hundreds of thousands of small-to-medium sized businesses, employing 2.6 million people and, in 2022, generating £66 billion for the economy in domestic visitor spending.

 

VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 – List of Finalists:

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award:

B&B and Guest House of the Year:

Business Events Venue of the Year:

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year:

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award:

Experience of the Year:

Large Hotel of the Year:

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year:

New Tourism Business of the Year:

Pub of the Year:

Self Catering Accommodation of the Year:

Small Hotel of the Year:

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year:

Travel Content Award finalists 

  • Ben Aitken, The Guardian – ‘O’er vales and hills in a wheelchair: a new accessible trail in the Lake District’ 
  • Liz Edwards, The Times – ‘I went for a cross-country swim in the Thames, here’s what happened’ 
  • Richard Franks, JRNY Travel Magazine – ‘Greener Heartlands’

Taste of England Award:

Unsung Hero Award:

  • Katie Calder, V-ATE Automotive Smokehouse and Bowl, Lincolnshire 
  • Brett Hawkes, Crowhurst Park, East Sussex 
  • Duncan Wise, Northumberland National Park Authority, Northumberland

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