Tourism, hospitality and retail businesses across the Bristol area are celebrating their success at this week's Bristol Tourism and Hospitality Awards.
Organised by Destination Bristol, Sounds Commercial and supported by Bristol Marriott Hotels, the awards not only celebrate business excellence within the tourism and hospitality industry, but also recognise individuals and teams for their contribution towards the city’s reputation as a key visitor and business destination.
Winners include At-Bristol science centre which was presented with the Sustainable Tourism Award, Pieminister, which won the Taste of Bristol Award, Bristol Zoo Gardens for Large Tourism Attraction of the Year, and Alveston House Hotel which was recognised for Small Hotel of the Year. A full list of winners is detailed below.
For the first time, the local retail sector took part in the awards this year. Businesses within Bristol Shopping Quarter, comprising Broadmead, The Galleries and Cabot Circus, were shortlisted for two prestigious awards reflecting high quality customer service.
A total of 17 awards were sponsored by supporters of the tourism and hospitality industry, and nearly 200 entries were made.
The winners were announced at a gala dinner at the Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel last night attended by 300 representatives from businesses across the industry. The sell-out event was presented by Ian Downs, Downsy, who hosts That Morning Thing on Bristol's 106 JACK fm.
The winners of many of the categories will now go on to represent Bristol in the VisitEngland Awards taking place later this year.
Destination Bristol commercial services manager Kathryn Davis said: “This is a fantastic result for so many tourism and hospitality businesses in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We are thrilled that a high number of organisations and individuals took time to enter the awards and support this initiative. The success of this event was made possible by the support of Sounds Commercial, the Bristol Marriott Hotels and all the sponsors who give up so much of their own time to make this happen.”
Bristol Tourism and Hospitality Award Winners 2012
Bed and Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year
· Fern Cottage B&B, Pucklechurch
Small Hotel of The Year
· Alveston House Hotel
Large Hotel of the Year – sponsored by Sounds Commercial<http://www.sounds-commercial.co.uk/>
· The Bristol Hotel – A Member of the Doyle Collection
· Bristol Marriott Royal
Sustainable Tourism Award – sponsored by BusinessWest
· At-Bristol science centre
Business Tourism Award – sponsored by N-Gaged Training<http://www.n-gaged.co.uk/home>
· Aztec Hotel & Spa
Taste of Bristol Award – sponsored by Destination Bristol
· Pieminister
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – sponsored by SACO serviced apartments<http://www.sacoapartments.com/>
· Bristol Zoo Gardens
· The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare
Tourism Experience of the Year sponsored by Pear Communication
· Bristol Zoo – Wow Gorillas
· See No Evil
Pub of the Year sponsored by Bristol Marriott Hotels
· Pony and Trap, Chew Magna
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
· Ramada Bristol City Hotel, Keith Andrew
Attractions Team of the Year
· At Bristol, ‘In the Zone’ Production Crew
Individual Customer Service of the Year – Attractions
· Bristol City Sightseeing, Warwick Hulme
Hospitality Team of the Year
· Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel, Events team
Details to be confirmed for the following awards:
Best salesperson from an Independent Store – sponsored by Bristol Shopping Quarter
* Kitt Bellamy, Greetings Galore
Best salesperson from a National Multiple, sponsored by Bristol Shopping Quarter
* Geraldine Skyrme, Specsavers
More information about the awards is available at http://visitbristol.co.uk/destinationbristol/information/awards-2012
