Winners of the North East Tourism Awards announced

Last week (April 23), a virtual event was held to reveal the winners of the North East Tourism Awards.

The business community came together online to celebrate the quality and diversity of the region’s tourism industry and to support the industry in these challenging times.

During the online event, judges for each category outlined the strengths of the winning applications.

Sage Gateshead and Falconry Days were both double winners, with Maldron Hotel Newcastle taking home the New Tourism Business Award – one of three new categories introduced for the 2020 awards.

The other new categories were Experience of the Year and the International Tourism Award.

The full list of gold winners are as follows:

–       Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award – Sage Gateshead

–       B&B and Guest House of the Year – St Cuthbert’s House

–       Business Events Venue of the Year – Sage Gateshead

–       Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year – Seafield Caravan Park

–       Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award – South Tynedale Railway

–       Experience of the Year – CBK’s Adventure Co.

–       Large Hotel of the Year – Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa

–       Small Hotel of the Year – Seaham Hall

–       International Tourism Award – Falconry Days

–       New Tourism Business Award – Maldron Hotel Newcastle

–       Pub of the Year – The Apple Inn

–       Self-Catering Accommodation Provider of the Year – St Oswald’s Farm

–       Taste of North East England Award – Dobson and Parnell

–       Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

–       Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Falconry Days

Sarah Green, Chief Executive at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, who organise the awards, said: “A huge congratulations to this year’s winners and all those who continue to contribute so much to the North East tourism sector.

“Covid-19 is having a devastating impact on the sector but these awards demonstrate the quality of the North East Tourism offer and gives us confidence that once the current situation eases the region will be in a strong place to benefit from a predicted upturn in domestic and day tourism.

“Along with our colleagues in tourism organisations across the North East, we will continue to invest in marketing, with a strong digital and media presence, to ensure that tourists are aware of our fantastic region and have us front of mind when planning for future visits.”

The North East England Tourism Awards were sponsored by Newcastle College and Bidfood.