Organisers of the North East Tourism Awards have opened up applications for next year's competition and are encouraging the region's tourism businesses to apply.
The awards aim to celebrate quality, innovation and best practice throughout the region by showcasing the range of 'high quality' experiences on offer for visitors to the North East. Next year's awards will see businesses compete in 16 categories, including two new categories introduced at this year's awards: Unsung Hero and Resilience and innovation Award as well as the return of the Business Events Venue of the Year Award.
The awards, which will celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2023, will see applications judged by a panel of industry experts, with a focus on experiencing the North East tourism industry first-hand.
Read more: County Durham hotel named best small hotel in successful night for North East at VisitEngland Awards
The launch of the awards follows on from the impressive performance for the region at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence earlier this month, where Seaham Hall picked up gold in the small hotel of the year category. Triple A Food Tours and Hotel Indigo Durham took silvers in new tourism business and large hotel categories respectively, while Clive Goodwin from the Ouseburn Trust picked up bronze in the Unsung Hero award.
Sarah Green, chief executive of destination and investment organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative said: "We're really excited to be launching The North East England Tourism Awards, especially on the back of a fantastic night for the region at the national VisitEngland Awards earlier this month. Businesses will once again be able to showcase their skills, innovation and visitor offer in a range of categories that we hope will attract entries from across the region.
"We strongly encourage all tourism businesses in the North East - accommodation providers, pubs, restaurants and attractions - to submit their free entry for the awards and help us to showcase the best of the North East."
Richard Ord, director of Colman's Seafood Temple in South Shields, who won Gold for Taste of North East England at the 2022 Awards and its sister restaurant was recently named one of the best seaside chippies in the country, said: "Winning an award at the tourism awards is great and has been a real boost for business with a lot of people coming to visit us since winning the award. The awards are really important for the region as it showcases all of the businesses we have here as well as showing our visitors some of the best hospitality and tourism attractions they need to visit."
Applications for the North East England Tourism Awards will close at 5pm on Thursday September 22 2022 with the winners being announced in March 2023. For more information and to submit an application, click here.
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