South West Tourism Awards 2011-12

Businesses in Devon celebrated success at the South West Tourism Awards, presented at a prestigious ceremony on 6 February at the Riviera International Conference Centre, Torquay.

This year’s awards event was hosted by well known TV presenter Teresa Driscoll, with the presentations themselves made by journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder, Senior Travel Editor of The Independent and a frequent TV commentator on travel and tourism.

Visit www.southwesttourismawards.org.uk for more information.

Included amongst the night's winners were Wheatland Farm, Wnkleigh who took Gold in the hotly contested Sustainable Tourism category and Finlake Holiday Park, Chudleigh who took Silver in the Holiday Park and Village of the Year category.

The Arundell Arms Hotel in Lifton scooped two awards with Gold in the Business Tourism Award and Highly Commended in the Tourism Activity, Sport & Experience of the Year Award, due to their excellent fishing facilities. Aerosaurus Balloons, Whimple took the Silver Award in this same category.

Dartmoor Hotels celebrated success with Gidleigh Park Hotel Highly Commended in the Small Hotel of the Year Award, and Bovey Castle taking the Gold in the Large Hotel of the Year Award.

The Heart of Devon's B&Bs proved their excellence with Larkbeare Grange near Exeter taking the Bronze in the Bed & Breakfast and Guest Accommodation of the Year Award, and Hedgehog Corner in Axminster Highly Commeded.

Food & drink is one of Devon's specialities, so it's no surprise that there were two Devon winners in the Taste of the South West category. Gidleigh Park took Silver, whilst the Lamb Inn, Sandford was Highly Commended.

Congratulations to all the winners! Visit the South West Tourism Award Winners page to view the full list of winners.

Chair of Judges, Alistair Handyside, said:

“Tourism will be one of the keys to economic recovery in South West England and this year’s finalists show that there is no shortage of innovation in the region. They, and all the entrants, should be congratulated for their great efforts. Their creativity, across both start ups and established businesses reinvesting or diversifying has been immense. They have given us a further platform to shout about the diverse quality in the region at a national level, where we expect to do well.”