North East tourism businesses are being encouraged to enter the North East England Tourism Awards (NEETA) as applications open today (13 June 2018).
The North East England Tourism Awards celebrate the best in the industry throughout the region, highlighting the North East’s exciting visitor offering.
Winners at the Awards have the opportunity to represent the North East and compete on a national stage at VisitEngland’s Awards for Excellence.
Earlier this year, six businesses from the region were recognised at VisitEngland’s Awards for Excellence 2018. Sage Gateshead and Laverock Law Cottages came away with gold, while Seafield Caravan Park, Go North East, Hall Hill Farm and Seaham Hall were all finalists.
Abigail Pogson, managing director at Sage Gateshead said: “To be recognised at a regional and then national level through the Tourism Awards is a real honour and a fantastic boost to our team, who work so hard. Winning gold at the national VisitEngland Awards has helped to raise our profile and the region’s. It gives confidence to prospective clients and visitors that we are committed to providing the highest level of service and that they will receive the best experience.”
Harvest Harris-Jones from Laverock Law Cottages added: ”For the whole of our family here at Laverock Law winning first the Northumberland Tourism award, the NEETA award and then in May this year the National VisitEngland award for Sustainable Tourism has been recognition of all the hard work and commitment to sustainable tourism that we have put in at Laverock Law. It has also been a springboard for us to look at what to do next to ensure that we continue to give our guests the best magical holiday memories with the most positive approach to sustainability across all of our business activities.”
The North East England Tourism Awards are organised and delivered by destination management and marketing organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative in partnership with other members of the Northern Tourism Alliance and local authorities. The Awards are free to enter and submissions close on 4 September. The North East tourism sector will gather together for the glittering awards ceremony on 21 November at Newcastle Civic Centre.
Sarah Stewart, chief executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “The North East England Tourism Awards allow us to celebrate the success of our tourism sector and gives businesses the opportunity to showcase the regional on a national stage. Tourism is the fourth largest sector in the North East economy and the Awards recognise how the sector, and the people within it, contribute to the region.
“As the region prepares to host the biggest event in England in 2018 – Great Exhibition of the North – this year is a brilliant time for the sector to shout about what we have to offer. We’re looking for the region’s tourism businesses, from hotels and pubs, to eateries and attractions, to seize this opportunity and enter the North East England Tourism Awards this year.”
Newcastle College and Bidfood are supporting the Awards as event sponsors for 2018.
Lisa Hamilton-Murray, assistant principal at Newcastle College, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the North East Tourism Awards for another year. Our students contribute significantly to the regional tourism industry with many going on to forge successful careers in the sector on completion of their course at Newcastle College.
“We enjoy a wide range of fantastic partnerships with regional and national employers which enable our students to experience employment within some of the best hotels, restaurants and resorts. The North East England Tourism Awards are a great opportunity to support and celebrate the successes of the growing tourism industry in the North East”.
Susan Justice, head of business development at Bidfood added: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the North East England Tourism Awards for the second year running. There are so many fantastic tourism and hospitality businesses across the North East and it’s great to see them recognised through these awards.
“This year, I will be judging the ‘Dog Friendly Business Category’ and can’t wait to celebrate those organisations that go above and beyond to deliver the best possible experience to those visiting the region.”
More information on the North East England Tourism Awards can be found at www.NorthEastTourismAwards.com.
The Northern Tourism Alliance is a collaboration of the region’s tourism bodies who work together on projects that will benefit the tourism industry across the region. The founding members of the alliance are NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Northumberland Tourism, Visit County Durham, and The North East Hotels Association. The North East England Tourism Awards are also supported by South Tyneside Council and North Tyneside Council.