Tourism awards deadline extended

Deadlines for this year’s official tourism awards for Visit Devon and other counties Cornwall, Dorset and the South West, have been extended after websites receive record 13,475 views.

With judging of this year’s tourism awards due to start in July, tourism businesses across the region are being offered a short extension until Friday 19th June for submitting entries, with Friday 26th June the last submission date for those who register on or before Friday 19th June. For the Unsung Hero & Tourism Event and Festival categories there is a later deadline of Friday 28th August.

The awards have seen record entries and successes over the past few years, with 425 entries in 2014.  Entry into the awards not only leads to the chance of becoming a regional winner at the Visit Devon Awards, but can also lead to success in the national Visit England awards.  Businesses seeking a national accolade must first enter their local awards which act as a ‘heat’ for the national awards.

Victoria Hatfield, Chair of Visit Devon, says of the awards: "I would strongly encourage Devon establishments to enter the Visit Devon Awards.

"The opportunity to enter these free, prestigious awards is one not to be missed and entrants stand the chance of not only winning in the county awards but also the chance to win a national award with Visit England too. Devon has so many wonderful, unique establishments and the awards really are the opportunity for our very best tourism businesses to be recognised but in order to be in with a chance establishments need to enter."
                                                                    
The Unsung Hero award is unlike other categories, being an opportunity for visitors, businesses and other third parties to nominate individuals who have excelled in delivering outstanding service.  The Tourism Event award is open to those events that are so significant in attracting visitors to the area such as literary festivals, balloon fiestas, maritime events, etc. The new International Visitor Experience category is designed to recognize those businesses that bring in significant numbers of visitors from overseas, and offer a product to match.

The awards are free to enter, with up to 24 categories to choose from ranging from pub, spa, learning experience, attraction, B&B, event, activity, hotel, holiday park and self-catering holiday to awards for international tourism, customer service, access, sustainable tourism, being dog friendly, wildlife friendly and venues. South West winners go on to represent the region at the national Visit England awards.

Full details of the tourism awards, along with details of how to enter, top tips and entry forms can be found at the four awards websites:

For further information on Visit Devon and last year’s award winners go to www.visitdevon.co.uk. To register and enter please visit Devon Tourism Awards www.devontourismawards.org.uk