03 May 2007

Tourism triumphs at new annual “Oscars”

The winners of the 2007 Cumbria Tourism Awards were revealed at a special ceremony held in Kendal last night (Wednesday May 2).

Dozens of businesses from around the county gathered at the Castle Green Hotel to hear the winners announced by compere for the evening, Tim Backshall, of ITV Border’s Lookaround News programme.

For the first time ever, Cumbria Tourism merged its annual Cumbria For Excellence Awards with its Cumbria Skills Awards. There were 10 tourism business categories and eight employee categories.
 
Winners included businesses in Carlisle, Whitehaven, Ireby, Newby Bridge, Newlands near Keswick, Silecroft, Kendal, and Appleby.

Ian Stephens, chief executive of Cumbria Tourism, which organised the competition, said: “The real winners from these awards are the tourism industry and our visitors. We have seen some exceptional tourism businesses in this year’s competition and some truly exceptional tourism employees recognised for their dedication to the industry. We are immensely proud of the work they do and they keep raising the standard year after year.”
 
Each winner of the Skills Awards received a cheque for £200, an engraved award and framed certificate.  The winner of the Lady Inglewood Award for Excellence in Tourism Training was presented with the Lady Inglewood Rose Bowl.

The winning businesses in the Business Awards were presented with an engraved award from Honister Slate Mine and framed certificate. Winners will also receive a free profit and performance improvement coaching session from main sponsors Lamont Pridmore and The Winning Company.

Other sponsors included Hayton Winkley, Sedley Place, CLEAN, Cumberland Building Society, NatWest Commercial Banking, Colliers Robert Barry, Distinctly Cumbrian, Saint & Co, Blackpool International Airport, Armstrong Watson, MLA North West, Eden District Council, Performance House, Carrier Direct Marketing and Cumbria County Council.

The awards are supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and winners from the business categories will now go forward to represent Cumbria in the agency's England’s Northwest Tourism Awards later this year.

Peter Mearns, director of marketing and communications at the NWDA, said: “Cumbria and the Lake District play a vital role in the region’s £10 billion visitor economy and these awards recognise the dedication and commitment of the people who work so hard to make it such a successful industry.  Tonight’s winners are setting the standards that are needed to make this one of Europe’s top visitor destinations.”

Ends

Cumbria Tourism Awards 2007 – The Winners & Finalists

Business awards

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year  (Sponsored by Hayton Winkley)
Winner
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery
Finalists
South Lakes Wild Animal Park
The Rheged Centre

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 2007 (Sponsored by CLEAN)
Winner
The Rum Story
Finalists
Go Ape! Hire Wire Forest Adventure
High Head Sculpture Valley and Spa

Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year (Sponsored by Cumberland Building Society)
Winner
Boltongate Old Rectory
Finalists
Augill Castle
Moresby Hall

Large Hotel of the Year (Sponsored by NatWest Commercial Banking)
Winner
Lakeside Hotel
Finalists
The Trout Hotel
Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel

Small Hotel of The Year (Sponsored by Colliers Robert Barry)
Winner
Swinside Lodge Hotel
Finalists
Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel
Linthwaite House Hotel

Tourism Experience of the Year (Sponsored by Sedley Place)
Winner
Murthwaite Green Trekking Centre
Finalists
Lake District Calvert Trust
Go Ape! Hire Wire Forest Adventure

Business Tourism Award of the Year (Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore/The Winning Company)
Winner
The Castle Green Hotel
Finalists
Taylors Blackbeck
Rheged

Taste of Cumbria Award of the Year (Sponsored by Distinctly Cumbrian)
Winner
Food And Company
Finalists
McMenamins
Cumbria On A Plate

Caravan Holiday Park of the Year (Sponsored by Saint & Co – The Hotel Specialists)
Winner
Wild Rose Park
Finalists
Fallbarrow Park
White Cross Bay

Self Catering Holiday of the Year (Sponsored by the Ullswater Association)
Winner
Stone Cottage
Finalists
The Lazy Fish
Lake District Honeymoons

Tourism Website of the Year (Sponsored by New Vision)
Winner
www.nearhowe.co.uk

Finalists
www.castleriggfarm.com

www.heartofthelakes.co.uk

Skills Awards

Tourism Team of the Year (Sponsored by Blackpool International Airport)
Winner
The Kitchen Brigade at the Castle Green Hotel
Finalists
Rheged Marketing and Sales Team
Jennings Team of Tour Guides

Unsung Hero Award (sponsored by Armstrong Watson)
Winner
Nicola Conchie, Junior Chef, Taylors Blackbeck Hotel
Finalists
Brian Pearson, Cleaner, Park Cliffe Camping and Caravan Estate
Christine Richardson, Cleaner/General Assistant, Ouse Bridge Hotel

The Lady Inglewood Award for Excellence in Tourism Training (sponsored by Lamont Pridmore/The Winning Company)
Winner
The Rum Story
Finalist
McMenamins

Most Valuable Volunteer Award (sponsored by MLA North West)
Winner
Stephen Proctor, Honorary Showfield Director (Westmorland Country Show), Westmorland County Agricultural Society
Finalist
Don Greenop, Museum Volunteer, Haig Colliery Mining Museum

Best New Entrant to the Industry (sponsored by Eden District Council)
Winner
Matty Todd, General Manager, McMenamins
Finalists
Vickie Parr, Deputy Executive Director, Lakeland Wildlife Oasis
Michael Salaki, Trainee Chef, Grasmere Hotel

Most Outstanding Customer Service Award (Sponsored by Performance House)
Winner
Tina Chandler, Assistant Administrator, Muncaster
Finalists
Tim Hall & Claire Cox, Proprietors, Haven Cottage B&B
Julia Howarth, Head Receptionist, Rothay Manor Hotel & Restaurant

Most Exceptional Young Tourism Manager (Sponsored by Carrier Direct Marketing)
Winner
Michelle Croukamp, Deputy Manager, Low Wood Hotel
Finalists
Tom Hart, Manager, Bridge Inn (Santon Bridge)
Rachel Nicholson, Assistant Manager, Kirkstile Inn

Dedication to Learning Award (Sponsored by Cumbria County Council)
Winner
Mike Mounfield, Head of School/CoVE Manager, Kendal College
Finalists
Wendy Black, Duty Manager, The Rum Story
Annette Gibbons

1: For more information and interviews contact Cumbria Tourism Press Office on 01539 822222 or email ebutcher@cumbriatourism.org
 
2: Photos from last night's awards will be available from www.benbarden.co.uk/awards from 2.30pm today.

4: Cumbria Tourism is supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). The NWDA leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for: Supporting business growth and encouraging investment; Matching skills provision to employer needs; Creating the conditions for economic growth; Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure; Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life. www.nwda.co.uk

5: To book accommodation in Cumbria – The Lake District, please call our Accommodation Booking Line on 0845 450 1199 or go to www.golakes.co.uk