Five leading tourism businesses in Durham are celebrating after making the shortlist for this year’s North East England Tourism Awards.
Seaham Hall Hotel and Spa, Beamish Museum, Durham Pointers, Event Durham at Durham University and Hall Hill Farm have all been nominated in one or more categories, competing for the awards alongside other tourist attractions and businesses in Northumberland, Teesside and Tyne and Wear.
The awards play a key role in showcasing the range of high quality tourism businesses and experiences on offer to visitors across the North East.
The five shortlisted businesses will also have the chance to shine on a national stage, representing the North East in the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2018.
Last year, luxury hotel Rockliffe Hall and Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, reached the finals of the national awards – an accolade reflecting the highest standards in English tourism.
Michelle Gorman, managing director of Visit County Durham, said: “Once again tourism businesses in Durham have been recognised for the outstanding visitor experience they provide when welcoming visitors to the North East.
“Being shortlisted for both regional and national awards alongside other major visitor destinations highlights the quality of the flourishing tourism industry in Durham, with our nominees showcasing the extent of the offer in the county.”
The North East England Tourism Awards are organised and delivered by NewcastleGateshead Initiative in partnership with the Northern Tourism Alliance.
The Northern Tourism Alliance is a collaboration of the region’s tourism bodies which work together on projects that will benefit the tourism industry across the region. The members of the alliance are NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Northumberland Tourism, Visit County Durham, The North East Hotels Association, South Tyneside Council and North Tyneside Council.
The results will be announced at a glittering celebration on 16 November at The Boiler Shop, Newcastle, hosted by BBC Radio Newcastle breakfast show presenter, Alfie Joey.
The 2017 shortlist for the North East Tourism awards. Durham’s destinations are highlighted in bold:
Hotel of the Year
- Seaham Hall Hotel and Spa
- Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant
- Hotel Du Vin
- Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- The Aln Valley Railway Trust
- South Tynedale Railway
- Kirkley Hall
- Bide-a-Wee Cottage Garden and Nursery
- Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant
- Hall Hill Farm
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Kielder Water & Forest Park (KWFP)
- The Alnwick Garden
- Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Business Tourism Award
- Event Durham, Durham University
- Seaham Hall Hotel and Spa
- Newcastle City Council, Hospitality Services (Newcastle Civic Centre)
- Sage Gateshead
Visitor Information Provider of the Year
- Hartlepool Borough Council – Hartlepool Railway Station & Coast Project
- Durham Pointers
- South Tyneside Visitor Information Centre