Bath’s top tourism businesses are hoping to repeat their success in a recent major awards scheme when they take part in another round of awards next month. They are among more than 90 contenders in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.
Some 476 businesses, including hotels, restaurants, caravan parks and tourist attractions, had originally entered from the region that stretches from Wiltshire to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Bath area firms dominated the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards, which took place last month.
These businesses have now gone forward to take part in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, which will be presented at a gala event at Exeter’s Sandy Park on 7 April – the first in-person regional tourism awards ceremony for two years.
Leading the charge for the Bath area at the awards will be Lucknam Park, the 42-bedroom luxury hotel at Colerne which won its three Golds and two Silvers in Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards, and No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath, the 37-bedroom boutique townhouse hotel on Great Pulteney Street, which landed a Gold, a Silver and a Bronze.
The two will go head to head as finalist in the Spa & Wellbeing Experience of the Year category at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.
Lucknam Park is also in the running for the Business Events & Wedding Venue of the Year award while No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath, is hoping for success in the Small Hotel of the Year category.
The Scallop Shell fish and seafood restaurant, pictured, on Monmouth Place, which collected Gold for Casual Dining last month is among those competing for the Casual Dining Award this time while, after landing the Restaurant of the Year title, The Olive Tree Restaurant on Russel Street is aiming for a double in the same category.
Having been named top Dog Friendly Business and commended in Small Hotel category, the 31-bedroom Homewood Hotel is aiming to do the double by landing the wider awards’ Dog Friendly Business of the Year.
Bath Insider Tours, which provides private tours with a local guide, is a finalist in the Experience of the Year (Active or Learning) category, with Bath’s Mad Max Tours, which runs small-group visits to Stonehenge, Avebury and Cotswold villages, is commended in the same category after landing Silver last month.
Bath’s Royal Crescent Hotel, pictured, is up against Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, based near Chippenham, are among the finalists for the Large Hotel of the Year award.
More than 70 judges spent months poring over entry submissions, websites, social media and review sites, as well as visiting the business – in many cases as ‘mystery shoppers’.
Reports and recommendations were then submitted to an independent panel who made the final decisions.
Up to four finalists have been announced in each category who will compete for Gold, Silver or Bronze trophies.
Some will also be nominated to represent the South West in the national VisitEngland awards later in the year.
Robin Barker, director of Services for Tourism, which manages the awards, said: “Tourism has been referred to as ‘the happiness business’ and after two years of online events I can’t wait to share some happiness once again with the region’s tourism businesses and the many sponsors, partners and supporters who make the awards possible.”
Chair of judges Nigel Logan added: “This has been another challenging year for the awards but the resilience of the Services for Tourism team and the dedication of the many volunteer judges have been outstanding.
“Despite the challenges of staff shortages in the face of unprecedented demand for staycations all sectors of our tourism industry have shown incredible resourcefulness and made time to embrace this awards process.
“The diversity and focus of businesses, large and small, is of particular note and we offer our best wishes to all finalists for the year ahead.”
