Bristol’s tourism industry emerged triumphant again last week as venues and businesses from the city went head-to-head against rivals from across the whole of the region in the coveted South West Tourism Awards.
Brunel’s SS Great Britain scooped two awards – a joint gold award for Tourism Innovation – a new category this year – and bronze for Large Attraction of the Year – while pioneering aviation museum Aerospace Bristol, the venue for the awards, landed the Large Attraction of the Year silver award category plus a second silver in the Tourism New Business category. 
Bristol also excelled in the Guided Tour of the Year section, where the Wall’s Bristol Street Art Tour took silver while Bristol Hoppers – a walking tour of the city’s craft beer scene – earned bronze.
The New Room in Broadmead – also known as John Wesley’s Chapel – was described by judges as a “an oasis in the bustle of Bristol” and scooped bronze in the Small Attraction of the Year category, with Berkeley Castle highly commended in this award.
Jenny Stoves of Bristol Zoo took silver in the Customer Service Superstar category.
Some 107 awards were presented in front of 400 guests at the glittering ceremony at Aerospace Bristol – home to Concorde – following a rigorous judging process in which a record 651 entries were considered ranging from self-catering accommodation to pubs, hotels and tourist attractions.
Opening the event, Robin Barker of Services for Tourism said to the shortlisted competitors: “I’d like to commend you – the South West’s leading tourism businesses – for your vision, investment, hard work and excellence. You have had the courage to put yourselves forward to be judged, have been through what is recognised as England’s toughest judging process, and will all be winners tonight.”
Guests, who sat at tables underneath the wings of the last Concorde to fly, heard from Captain Les Brodie, the pilot who landed it at Filton in November 2003
The audience also drew inspiration from guest speaker Bonita Norris, the world’s youngest person to climb Everest and reach the North Pole.
Sponsors for the event included Bristol Airport and Destination Bristol.
For the full list of finalists and highly commended entrants, click here
