Winners from across the region's hospitality, leisure and visitor attraction industries have been revealed in the first ever West Midlands Tourism Awards.
The awards ceremony, held in the University of Birmingham's Great Hall last night, showcased the most impressive organisations helping to attract and entertain tourists to a sector worth £12 billion.
Among those taking home prizes from the 15 categories were Coombe Abbey in Coventry, The Butchers Social in Henley-in-Arden, Birmingham Hippodrome theatre and Burlton Cottages near Shrewsbury.
More than 40 organisations and businesses were shortlisted for the prestigious awards which were run by West Midlands Growth Company and BusinessLive publisher Reach, with support from Visit England, West Midlands Combined Authority and Shakespeare's England.
Neil Rami, chief executive of the West Midlands Growth Company, said: "The West Midlands Tourism Awards provided a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the very best of our region's visitor economy offer which is enjoying a real renaissance.
"We are entering a defining period where the West Midlands will be in the global spotlight like never before. This ceremony recognised the people who make this region such a great place to visit.
"Huge congratulations to all of our nominees and the gold and silver winners who will now go on to represent the West Midlands at VisitEngland's Awards for Excellence. I'm sure many of them will make their mark on this national stage."
The full list of winners is:
Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award
Gold - Birmingham Hippodrome
Silver - Royal Shakespeare Company
B&B/Guesthouse of the Year
Gold - Broome Park Farm
Silver - Avonlea
Bronze - Victoria Spa Lodge
Business Events Venue of the Year
Gold - Warwick Conferences
Silver - ICC Birmingham
Bronze - Coombe Abbey
Camping, Glamping, Holiday Park of the Year
Gold - Ettie's Field
Silver - Hencote
Bronze - Hopley's Family Camping
Fourth - Hill Farm Glamping
Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism
Gold - The Hive Café and Bakery
Experience of the Year
Gold - Jaguar Land Rover Experience Solihull
Silver - Royal Shakespeare Company
Bronze - Positively Birmingham Walking Tours
Fourth - Bobby Britnell Textile Artist
Large Hotel of the Year
Gold - Coombe Abbey
Silver - Malmaison Birmingham
Bronze - Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa
Small Hotel of the Year
Gold - Brockencote Hall
Silver - Baraset Barn, Lovely Pubs
International Tourism
Gold - Shakespeare's Birthplace
Silver - Go Cotswolds
New Tourism Business Award
Gold - Shakespeare Distillery
Silver - Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon
Bronze - Positively Birmingham Walking Tours
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
Gold - Burlton Cottages
Silver - Penny Black Cottages
Bronze - Ironbridge View Townhouse
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Gold - Royal Shakespeare Company
Silver - Black Country Living Museum
Bronze - National Sea Life Centre Birmingham
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Gold - FarGo Village
Silver - Shakespeare Schoolroom & Guildhall
Bronze - Jaguar Land Rover Experience Solihull
Fourth - Aston Hall
Pub of the Year
Gold - The Howard Arms
Silver - The Millstone Hare
Bronze - The Coracle Micropub
Taste of England Award
Gold - The Butchers Social
Silver - Turmeric Gold
Bronze - Esquires Coffee
Gold and silver winners will now be nominated for the Visit England National Awards for Excellence, to be held later this year.
Last night's awards were hosted by Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts with performances from Black Voices and The Royal Shakespeare Company acting out one of the scenes from its celebrated The Boy In The Dress musical.
Sponsors were Acorn Mitsubishi, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham MET, Black Country Museum, BlueBay Travel, Cadbury World, GoJute, Legoland, Mowgli Events, Purity Brewing, Rent2Buy Properties, Royal Shakespeare Company, Sea Life Centre, Table Art, Tank Top Media, Visit Coventry and Warners Leisure.
