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Beautiful South Awards
Best of the Region’s Tourism Businesses celebrate at The Beautiful South Awards 2016
Last night’s (24 Nov 2016) Beautiful South Awards at the Hilton at the Ageas Bowl, near Southampton, saw TV and radio celebrity Toby Anstis celebrating the cream of the region’s tourism industry. Businesses along the River Thames were well represented among the best in tourism in ‘South East England’.
Supported by headline sponsor Shepherd Neame, the Awards are run by Tourism South East to recognise excellence in the industry. Through this recognition and the benefits which flow from it, they help drive the ambitions of businesses throughout the South East and encourage them to raise standards in quality, innovation and customer service.
The winners have the opportunity to represent the South East in VisitEngland’s national Tourism Excellence Awards which take place in April 2017 – and show that our tourism businesses are a match for any in the country.
Leading the winners along the Thames were The Royal Oak, Marlow who won Gold for ‘Tourism Pub of the Year’ and The Oakley Court, Windsor who won Gold for ‘Dog Friendly Business of the Year’. Other notable wins included: Cliveden, Danesfield House, Abbey Guest House, The Baskerville, Odds Farm Park, Mapledurham Estate and Oxford Visitor Information Centre.
Nigel Smith, Chief Executive of Tourism South East, said, “Last night was a reminder of just how much the quality of tourism businesses in the South East improves every year. Many of the winners are truly world class. Achieving excellence isn’t easy – it takes vision, years of commitment, hard work and talented people. All of the finalists can be proud about their achievements and the example they are setting for others to follow.
Finally, I want to thank headline sponsor Shepherd Neame and the rest of our sponsors who make the Awards possible and the judges who give their time and expertise voluntarily. Sometimes the margin between businesses is tiny and they have the unenviable task of deciding between them. I am now looking forward to our winners taking on the rest of the country at the VisitEngland national Awards.”
Winners along the Thames
Venue & Business Tourism Award, Bronze – Danesfield House Hotel & Spa, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Bed & Breakfast of the Year, Highly Commended - Abbey Guest House, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Access & Inclusivity Award, Silver – Abbey Guest House, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Tourism Pub of the Year, Gold – The Royal Oak, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Tourism Pub of the Year, Silver – The Baskerville, Henley, Oxforshire
Large Hotel of the Year, Joint Bronze – Cliveden, Taplow, Berkshire
Large Hotel of the Year, Joint Bronze – The Oakley Court Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire
Café/Tearoom of the Year, Silver - Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common, Buckinghamshire
Sustainable Tourism Award, Silver – Mapledurham Estate, Mapledurham, Berkshire
Sustainable Tourism Award, Highly Commended - The Oakley Court Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire
Customer Services Superstar Award, Bronze – Corry Starling, Mapledurham Estate, Mapledurham, Berkshire
Visitor Information Provider of the Year, Bronze – Oxford Visitor Information Centre, Oxford
Restaurant/Bistro of the Year, Highly Commended - The Oakley Court Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire
Dog Friendly Business of the Year, Gold – The Oakley Court Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire
