The cream of Bristol’s visitor attractions, hotels and retailers will compete on Monday for the city’s top tourism and hospitality awards.
Staged by Destination Bristol, the coveted awards will be handed over in front of an audience of more than 300 representatives of the city's tourism industry at the Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel.
Now in their third year, the awards are more successful than ever, reflecting the strength of the sector in the city. Some 17 awards will be presented at Monday’s celebratory dinner – more than previous years.
Destination Bristol commercial services manager Kathryn Davis said: “In fact, this year it has been so popular that we have had to change to a bigger venue.
“Originally the awards were going to be at the Marriott Royal (on College Green) but so many people wanted to come we’ve moved to the Marriot City Centre on Lower Castle Street.”
Awards up for grabs range from Small Hotel of the Year, where Berwick Lodge and Thornbury Castle are two of the names on the shortlist, to Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, with Bristol Zoo Gardens and Weston-super-Mare’s redeveloped Grand Pier going head to head.
Other categories include Tourism Experience of the Year, Pub of the Year, and an individual award for Customer Hospitality.
The winners in any of the business categories go forward to the next round in the selection process for a place in the Best of England awards, organised by national tourist board VisitEngland.
New awards this year recognise the important role of individuals in the city’s tourism industry and include Best Salesperson from both an independent and national store.
Bristol Business News will be involved in the event with Travel Editor Anne Gorringe – a tourism award winner herself – presenting the Individual Customer Service of the Year Awards for Hospitality and Attractions.
Full details and photos of all the winners will appear on Bristol Business News and in next week’s Bristol Business News e-bulletin.
The awards are organised in conjunction with event management company Sounds Commercial with support from the Marriot.
The full list of nominations is:
Bed and Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year
- Brooks Guest House, Bristol
- Fern Cottage B&B, Pucklechurch
Small Hotel of the Year
- Alveston House Hotel
- Berwick Lodge
- Lodge on the Park
- Thornbury Castle
Large Hotel of the Year – sponsored by Sounds Commercial
- The Bristol Hotel – A Member of the Doyle Collection
- Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre
- Bristol Marriott Royal
- Doubletree by Hilton Cadbury House
- Hilton Garden Inn Bristol
- Novotel Bristol Centre
Sustainable Tourism Award – sponsored by Business West
- At-Bristol science centre
- Folly Farm Centre
- Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
Business Tourism Award – sponsored by N-Gaged Training
- Aztec Hotel & Spa
- The Bristol Hotel – A Member of the Doyle Collection
- Hotel du Vin & Bistro
Taste of Bristol Award
- Eat Drink Bristol
- Jacks Brasserie
- Lahloo Pantry
- Pieminister
- The Swan in Wedmore
- Watershed
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Saco serviced apartments
- Bristol Zoo Gardens
- The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare
Tourism Experience of the Year – sponsored by Pear Distribution
- Bailey Balloons
- Bristol Balloons
- Bristol Zoo – Wow Gorillas
- City Sightseeing;
- See No Evil
Pub of the Year – Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel & Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel
- Pony and Trap, Chew Magna
- The Swan in Wedmore
Access for All
- Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
Self-Catering / Serviced Apartments of the Year
- SACO Bristol Broad Quay
The following awards are in recognition of the role of retailers in Bristol and awards for customer service.
Individual Customer Service of the Year – Hospitality
- The Bristol Hotel, Mike Tavares – Duty Manager
- Bristol Toastmasters, Barbara Anne Maggs
- Fosters Catering, Peter Curtis Smith
- Holiday Inn Bristol City Centre, Andrea Eldridge
- Hilton Bristol Hotel, Sandra Bokomlaskova
- Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre, Holly Garnett
- Ramada Bristol City Hotel, Keith Andrew
- Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel, Cliff Blackmoor
Attractions Team of the Year
- At Bristol, ‘In the Zone’ Production Crew
- Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Noah’s Ark Buildings Team
Individual Customer Service of the Year – Attractions
- Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, David (‘Dav’) Bennett
- Bristol City Sightseeing, Warwick Hulme
Hospitality Team of the Year – sponsored by Maxima Training and Development
- Armada House conference and events team
- The Bristol Hotel, Front Office Team
- Hilton Bristol Hotel, Front Office team
- Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel, Events team
- Novotel Bristol Centre, Front Office Team
- Radisson Blu Bristol, Front Office Team
- Ramada Bristol City, Sales Team
Best salesperson from an Independent Store – sponsored by Bristol Shopping Quarter
Stephen Hockett, Luggage & Case
Kitt Bellamy, Greetings Galore
Best salesperson from a National Multiple – – sponsored by Bristol Shopping Quarter
Neil Broderick, House of Fraser
Geraldine Skyrme, Specsavers
