The date for the North East Tourism Awards has been announced during 2023's English Tourism Week.
The 20th anniversary of the awards, which returned to the Newcastle's Civic Centre for the first time since the Covid pandemic in 2022, will take place on March 23 in the same venue as part of English Tourism Week, which runs from March 17 - 26. More than 160 businesses entered the awards and the shortlist was announced in September, with well-known attractions such as Life Science Centre, Beamish Museum and the Alnwick Garden up for an award.
However, there are several businesses who aren't yet household names in the North East shortlisted too, including The Bosk in Breamish Valley; Schoolhouse Fenwick in Berwick, and Stephenson Steam Railway in North Tyneside. There are sixteen categories at the ceremony including experience of the year, unsung hero and large and small hotels of the year.
Read more: Shortlist announced for North East Tourism Awards 2023 - the list in full
Winners from some of the regional categories will progress to compete in the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence held later in the year. At the most recent ceremony, Seaham Hall picked up Gold for Small Hotel of the Year for all of England, while Triple A Food Tours, Hotel Indigo Durham, and Clive Goodwin of the Ouseburn Trust were also nominated.
Ian Thomas, destination director at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, who delivers the regional awards, said: "We were astounded by the quality and range of entries to the 2023 awards, with more than 50% of entries coming from businesses who have not entered in the past.
"Following the announcement from Government that the North East will be the pilot area for the first ever Destination Development Partnership, we're excited to showcase the incredible businesses and individuals that make our destination stand out from the rest. "Tourism continues to be a major economic driver for the region and in our 20th anniversary year of the awards we want to celebrate the industry and it's importance to the North East."
Tickets for the North East Tourism Awards are priced at £45 +VAT or £450+ VAT for a table of ten. For more information, visit the North East Tourism Awards website.
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