Bournemouth’s Tourism Award winners celebrate success at the industry’s biggest ever event hosted last night at Bournemouth International Centre.
The spectacular final gala awards dinner party was attended by hundreds of guests, dignitaries and supporters all celebrating the achievements of this year’s finalists and winners.
This year saw the arrival of the brand-new ‘Green Initiative Award’ sponsored by Waste Management Facilities. This was awarded to BH Live for its commitment to reducing energy consumption through a variety of activities including renewable energy, sustainable purchasing and recycling.
Master of Ceremonies, Chris Jarvis, TV presenter and panto star, has a long-standing affinity with the area, and had the whole crowd laughing all night. Performances were by gifted local singer song-writer Tara Flanagan, Lee Hayter showed his magic on the keyboard during the drinks reception and The Guilty Pleasures were back by popular demand as the party band at the end of the evening.
Des Simmons Director of Bournemouth Tourism Management Board, and Managing Director of Bournecoast Ltd, said, “The Bournemouth Tourism Awards are all about the overall tourism experience, the location, the food, the ambience and, of course, the people who look after the visitors to the area. It is also about celebrating and recognising the quality that we have in our tourism industry that attracts over 64million people to the county. This year the judging was tougher than ever and we congratulate everyone who entered and most especially those who made it into the semi-finals as well as the finalists and winners.
The awards have become a key event in the annual calendar which we all look forward to. A big thank you must also go to our sponsors and partners, and those who support these awards.
Tourism is the lifeblood of the area, providing the foundation of which all other business sectors are now flourishing. The 2018 awards will see the Tourism Industry in Bournemouth and Poole work more closely together, and the opportunity for Poole and Bournemouth to become a Tourism “powerhouse” with a combined annual business turnover of nearly £1 billion, attracting 11 million visitors per year and sustaining over 16,000 jobs.
Bournemouth and Poole Councils are in the process of agreeing joint management arrangements for Tourism and Seafront which begins this April, and this would not be possible without the leadership and commitment of Industry Representatives from Poole and Bournemouth Tourism Management Boards, Council Leaders and Portfolio Holders, and CEO’s from each of the Borough Councils.”
The winners and finalists of the Bournemouth Tourism Awards 2017 are:
The Education Award – sponsored by Bournemouth English Book Centre
WINNER: MLS International College
Finalists:
- Capital School of English
- Classroom in the Heart of Industry (CHI) Training
- Department of Tourism and Hospitality, Bournemouth University
- Hengistbury Head Outdoor Centre
Best Retail Experience Award – presented by Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce
WINNER: All Fired Up
Finalists:
- Attico
- Fab Frocks
- Nellie Mimosa
- Westbourne Bookshop
The Green Initiative Award – sponsored by Waste Management Facilities
WINNER: BH Live
Finalists:
- Boscanova
- Hadland Green Foundation
- Marvo Mysteries Escape Room Bournemouth
- RNLI – The Hub
Transport Delivery Award – presented by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bournemouth
WINNER: More Bus – Purbeck Breezer
Finalists:
- Discover Dorset
- Dorset Cruises
- Frieda’s Tea Bus
- Swanage Railway
- Yellow Buses RATP Group
The Afternoon Tea Award – sponsored by Not Just Travel
WINNER: Derby Manor Hotel
Finalists:
- Frieda’s Tea Room
- Green House Hotel
- Hotel Miramar
- Ventana Grand Café – The Cumberland Hotel
The Creative Concept of the Year Award – Sponsored by Bournemouth Daily Echo
WINNER: Coastal BID
Finalists:
- Business Events Bournemouth
- Conker Spirit
- Marvo Mysteries Escape Room Bournemouth
- Science Zone
- Sustainable Food City
The Family Eating Experience Award – sponsored by Town Centre BID
WINNER: Flirt Café and Bar
Finalists:
- Cosy Club Bournemouth
- Key West Bar & Grill
- Koh Thai Tapas Bournemouth
- Urban Reef Restaurant
The Specialist Dining Experience Award – sponsored by Comax UK
WINNER: Koh Thai Tapas Bournemouth
Finalists:
- Del Marco Pizzeria
- Nativ
- Ojo Rojo
- Renoufs
Bournemouth’s Rising Star Award – sponsored by Signature Catering Co.
WINNER: Carl Draper – Waveslider Photography
Finalists:
- Sarah Ali Choudhury
- Tom Keeping – Keeping & Co.
- Adam Lynk – Adam Lynk Photography
- Oliver Newton – Hotel Miramar
The Small Hotel Award – sponsored by Berendsen
WINNER: Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa
Finalists:
- Cliff House Hotel
- Derby Manor Hotel
- Lord Bute Hotel
- Number 9 Wimborne
- The Grove Hotel
The Great Time Out Award – sponsored by ROUTEpr
WINNER: The Bournemouth 7s Festival
Finalists:
- Bournemouth Jazz Festival
- Marvo Mysteries Escape Room Bournemouth
- Oceanarium Bournemouth
- RockReef and the PierZip
- The Shake and Stir Vintage Festival
Bournemouth’s Best Breakfast Award – sponsored by Wave 105
WINNER: Binnies
Finalists:
- C U Latte
- English Rose Café
- Fresh and Tasty
- The Hungry Wolf Café
The Large Hotel Award – sponsored by BKB Accountants
WINNER: Hilton Bournemouth
Finalists:
- Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa
- Hallmark Hotel Bournemouth Carlton
- Hotel Miramar
- Marsham Court Hotel
- The Cumberland Hotel
The World Cuisine Award – sponsored by MediaWise and MMediaGroup
WINNER: Turtle Bay Bournemouth
Finalists:
- Chicken and Blues
- Koh Thai Tapas Bournemouth
- Nativ
- Noodle Bar Bournemouth
- Ojo Rojo
The Bar Personality of the Year Award – presented by Templar Wines
WINNER: Liam White – Cosy Club
Finalists:
- Ben Flewitt – Eden Bournemouth
- Robert Haidau
- Julezz Towers – Le Chic
- Tommo Quy – Captain’s Club Hotel and Spa
Bournemouth’s Best Night Out Award – presented by RT Promotions
WINNER: Canvas
Finalists:
- 1812 and Bar So
- Chaplins & The Cellar Bar
- Coastal Comedy
- Grosvenor Casino
- Mai Tai Cocktail Bar
The Unsung Hero Award – presented by Bournemouth Tourism Management Board
WINNER: Rosie Wallace
Finalists:
- David and Jane Bailey
- Ian Goode
- Tim Seward
- Jenni Wilkinson
-Ends-
Notes to Editors:
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Elizabeth Symmons, PR & Corporate Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
T: (01202) 055562
About BH Live
BH Live is the south coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
In Bournemouth, BH Live manages Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth Pavilion, Littledown, Pelhams and Stokewood in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council.
Sir David English is managed in partnership with Bournemouth Schools Charitable Trust.
With more than three million visits a year and over £36.5 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy.
In 2015/16 BH Live hosted more than 500 events, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets. They welcomed 2.6 million visits into its leisure centres and 118,000 conference and exhibition delegates into its venues. This contributed an estimated £66.3 million to the local economy through business and cultural tourism.
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