TOURISM award winners enjoyed an extra celebration with a party when three special prizes were announced.
The event at Sculpture by the Lakes near Dorchester was an opportunity for winners of the 2021/22 Dorset Tourism Awards, leaders and sponsors to meet face-to-face and receive their Stuart Wiltshire glass trophies, whilst enjoying a barbecue.
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The event was also able to celebrate the four Dorset businesses which have been announced as finalists in the national VisitEngland awards - Weymouth's Nothe Fort, West Bay Discovery Centre, the Acorn Inn at Evershot and All Hallows Farmhouse Cookery School near Wimborne. They will have to wait until the national awards ceremony on June 8 to find out if they have won.
There was further celebrations for West Bay Discovery Centre after it was presented with the Winner of Winners Trophy.
Presenting the award, awards organiser Robin Barker said: “There are no set criteria for this award but one entrant won in several categories and has now gone on to be a national finalist. A fabulous exemplar to others, they won a gold award for Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism, a further gold for Visitor Information, and bronze for Small Visitor Attraction. The Winner of Winners is West Bay Discovery Centre.”
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The Outstanding Contribution to Dorset Tourism was presented to Richard Smith, Chair of Dorset Tourism Association and Director of the Tank Museum.
Sara Uzzell, Deputy Chair of Dorset LEP, announced the award saying: “Over 16 years Richard has developed the Tank Museum to be one of Dorset’s best and most successful visitor attractions. On top of his tank-filled day-job, Richard has endless energy for making the entire Dorset tourism sector a huge success. He champions all hospitality and tourism businesses, across Dorset - he lobbies stakeholders, he fights for funding and he promotes talent, engagement and product development. Dorset is a better place for visitors and businesses thanks to Richard’s passion for collaboration and excellence.”
There was a special Apprenticeship award for Jill Meyerhoff of Hall and Woodhouse in recognition of the company's apprenticeship scheme.
The 2022/23 Dorset Tourism Awards are now open for entry with a deadline of June 19.
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