Trailblazing businesses set to shine in Cumbria Tourism’s 50th anniversary year
Written by John Williamson on 30/01/2024
Widely seen as the ‘Oscars’ of the county’s tourism calendar, entries for the highly-anticipated Cumbria Tourism Awards 2024 are now open.
It’s a landmark year for the awards, which coincide with Cumbria Tourism’s 50th anniversary and give the county’s world-class tourism operators the chance to share their stand-out success stories and generate positive publicity for their businesses.
With an emphasis on quality customer service and innovation, businesses from across Cumbria’s world-class tourism and hospitality sector now have until 5pm on Friday 1 March to enter one or more of the 16 categories.
It’s a chance for a wide range of organisations to shout about their achievements from the last 12 months, from restaurants, guesthouses and B&Bs to self-catering accommodation, hotels, pubs and visitor attractions/experiences. That includes recognising people of all ages who are making their mark on an increasingly diverse and innovative tourism sector.
The finalists will be selected by an independent panel of industry experts, giving them an opportunity to walk the red carpet at a VIP awards ceremony on Tuesday 2 July at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal.
Eligible winners in many of the categories will also automatically feed into the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025, for the chance to gain national recognition.
The full list of categories for the Cumbria Tourism Awards 2024 includes:
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- Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
- B&B & Guest House of the Year sponsored by Dodd & Co
- Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year sponsored by Burnetts
- Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award sponsored by Westmorland & Furness Council
- Experience of the Year
- Large Hotel of the Year sponsored by Christie & Co
- Large Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored by H&H Reeds
- Makers and Producers Award
- New Tourism Business Award sponsored by Thomson Hayton Winkley
- Pub of the Year
- Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year sponsored by The Cumberland
- Small Hotel of the Year sponsored by Colliers
- Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Taste of Cumbria Award sponsored by Lamont Pridmore
- The Sheila Hensman Unsung Hero Award
- Wedding Venue of the Year sponsored by H&H Insurance BrokersManaging Director of Cumbria Tourism, Gill Haigh, says, “Our tourism businesses offer the highest quality to visitors and we want to hear from the full variety of local tourism businesses, makers and producers, as well as individual nominees for the Unsung Hero Award.
“The Cumbria Tourism Awards are a high-profile opportunity to showcase your successes, achievements and approach to excellence in your products, customer service, welcome, marketing and sustainable tourism practices. 2024 is Cumbria Tourism’s milestone 50th anniversary year, so it’s an extra-special time to enter and celebrate not only your business, but our wider world-class destination too.
“The whole process of entering the Cumbria Tourism Awards can also help gather invaluable feedback and insights for a business and how it can grow, develop and innovate for the future. Each year applicants tell us it’s a really constructive process, with thorough feedback which genuinely supports them and builds pride for the whole team.”
Full details on how to enter can be found at www.cumbriatourism.org/awards. Businesses do not need to be a member of Cumbria Tourism to apply.
Cumbria Tourism is also holding a free, practical workshop on ‘Writing a Great Award Entry’ on Wednesday 7 February to help businesses shape their applications against the judging criteria laid down by VisitEngland.
The Cumbria Tourism Awards are organised on a ‘not for profit’ basis and Cumbria Tourism is grateful to its sponsors for making the competition possible.
