Pioneering aviation museum Aerospace Bristol is in the running for a hat-trick of awards to add to its trophy collection tomorrow at this year’s Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards.
The year-old museum, which houses Concorde as well as tracing Bristol’s lead role in the history of powered flight, is a finalist in the Tourism New Business, Business Tourism and Venue, and Large Attraction of the Year categories of the awards, which take place tomorrow in Bath. 
Also challenging for one of the 28 awards up for grabs are Bristol Tourist Information Centre, Bristol Hoppers craft beer walking tours, Where The Wall’s Bristol Street Art Tour, Bristol Harbour Festival, the Hotel du Vin & Bistro, Brunel’s SS Great Britain and Spike Island Café.
This year’s awards, which are sponsored by Bristol Airport, are more competitive than ever as 30% more companies applied.
Bristol Airport business development director Nigel Scott said: “The high number and quality of entries shows the strength of the visitor economy in Bristol, Bath and Somerset. It also makes the achievement of these fantastic finalists even more special.
“It is no surprise that thousands of overseas tourists visit the West of England every year. We are proud to be the gateway region for this wonderful part of the world.”
Some 84 finalists – ranging from hotels, guest houses and pubs to visitor attractions, walking tours and festivals – have been shortlisted from across a region that spreads from Bristol and Bath across Somerset to Exmoor.
An additional 18 businesses have been highly commended across the 28 categories. Two new special awards have been added this year – The Age UK Somerset Age Friendly Tourism Business and The Bob Smart Learning Experience of the Year.
The awards are judged by a panel of experts who look for evidence not just of ‘good’ but of ‘excellence’.
Organiser Nell Barrington said: “The awards really showcase the diversity of the tourism offering in this area and it is great to give recognition to those businesses that truly go above and beyond to ensure visitors have a great time.”
Tomorrow night’s awards at Bath’s Apex Hotel will be hosted by Laura Rawlings of BBC Radio Bristol and former Bath Rugby captain Phil de Glanville.
Aerospace Bristol recently landed two major architectural awards in as many months.
