Hospitality businesses from Bath will line up against the cream of the West of England’s tourist attractions next month when the region’s most prestigious awards scheme for the sector returns for another year.
The Bristol, Bath, and Somerset Tourism Awards celebrate excellence in an industry that has continued to face huge challenges over recent years but has continued to innovate and develop. 
The 65 finalists will gather on 5 December at a prestigious ceremony for the contest in which Bristol hotels, leisure businesses and tourist attractions have traditionally performed strongly.
Among this year’s finalists is The Roman Baths, a regular award winner, in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism category, while its Unearthing Aquae Sulis – Life in a Roman Town interactive sessions is competing for the Active & Learning Experience Of The Year title.
Bath World Heritage Centre, which opened in 2022 and features interactive exhibits and displays about the city’s history, Georgian architecture and unique geology, is in the running for the Visitor Information Service of the Year accolade.
Museum No 1 Royal Crescent and The Bird of Prey Project at Newton St Loe go head to head in the Small Attraction of the Year category and the Victoria Art Gallery’s The Wonderful Word of the Ladybird Book Artists exhibition is a contender for the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year Award.
Searceys at The Pump Room hopes to be crowned as tthe Café/Tearoom Of The Year, while Indian restaurant The Sepoy Club in York Buildings has been commended in the Restaurant of the Year category.
Guided tour firm In & Beyond Bath, is a finalist in the International Tourism category, with the five-star Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa hoping to land the Wedding Venue of the Year title.
In total, there are 28 categories, with two special awards to be unveiled at the ceremony, which will take place at Batch Country House in Lympsham, near Weston-super-Mare.
The scheme has an ‘outstanding’ accreditation from quality standard organisation Trustmark, which recognises its rigorous judging process.
Each finalist underwent a thorough evaluation that included an in-depth review of entry forms, online presence, and, in most cases, an on-site visit.
All participants, whether winners or not, receive detailed feedback on their entries.
Awards director Nell Barrington said, “We were delighted with the number and quality of entrants this year including many small businesses who had entered for the first time.
“We look forward to celebrating all their achievements on awards night.”
Winners from a number of categories will go forward to represent the region in the 2025 national VisitEngland Awards.
