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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Tamlyn Jones

Shortlist revealed for West Midlands Tourism Awards 2023

More than 30 different companies and venues have been named as finalists in the 2023 West Midlands Tourism Awards.

They include well-known large sites such as Coventry Cathedral and Birmingham's Grand Hotel and smaller operators like Achill Guest House & Spa in Solihull and Riverside Cabins in Shrewsbury (scroll down for the full shortlist).

The annual awards, which are organised by inward investment agency West Midlands Growth Company, will celebrate achievement across 14 different categories at a ceremony in March, with finalists from a broad range of sectors including arts, accommodation and heritage.

As well as regional success, the winners on the night will automatically be entered in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023 for the chance to be recognised on a national level.

West Midlands Growth Company is responsible for delivering the Business and Tourism Programme which is a three-year initiative aiming to leverage the profile of the 2022 Commonwealth Games to attract more tourists and major events to this region and wider UK.

Andrew Lovett, chairman of the West Midlands tourism and hospitality advisory board, said: "The West Midlands Tourism Awards are once again set to honour those venues that make this region such an impressive and welcoming place to visit. Applications for these awards really do test the judges to undertake the most careful of analysis before arriving at the best of the best. In this respect, all nominations can be enormously proud.

"It's been a significant year for the West Midlands, with Coventry wowing arts fans during its memorable 12 months as UK City of Culture, and the breathtaking 2022 Commonwealth Games attracting more than five million visitors to Birmingham city centre during the two-week sporting spectacle.

"While many people came for the games, it was the offering and welcome of our West Midlands tourism and hospitality venues which really struck a chord with visitors. Despite the strong headwinds affecting all our daily lives at the moment, we look forward with eager anticipation to celebrating our fantastic tourism offer and the people who have helped to make 2022 such a vibrant year."

It is estimated the tourism sector contributed £10.1 billion to the West Midlands' economy last year, attracting 102.3 million visitors as it started to recover from the outbreak and impact of the Covid pandemic. It supported more than 101,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

The 2023 West Midlands Tourism Awards takes place on March 16 at Grand Station in Wolverhampton, with comedian Shazia Mirza as host and entertainment from The Peaky Blinders band.

The full awards shortlist is:

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award

Burlton Cottages, Shrewsbury

St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry

Business Events Venue of the Year

Coventry Building Society Arena

The Belfry Hotel, Sutton Coldfield

The ICC, Birmingham

Camping, Glamping, Holiday Park & Small Serviced Accommodation Provider of the Year

Achill Guest House & Spa, Solihull

Riverside Cabins, Shrewsbury

Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award

Riverside Cabins, Shrewsbury

Staying Cool at Rotunda, Birmingham

The NEC, Solihull

Experience of the Year

Bear Grylls Adventure, Solihull

Go Cotswolds, Warwickshire

Large Hotel of the Year

Clayton Hotel, Birmingham

Hilton Birmingham Metropole, Solihull

The Grand Hotel, Birmingham

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Coventry Cathedral

Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham

The NEC, Solihull

New Tourism Business Award

Roundhouse, Birmingham

Telegraph Hotel, Coventry

The Reel Store, Coventry

Pub of the Year

Dhillons Brewery, Coventry

The Howard Arms, Warwickshire

Resilience & Innovation Award

Albany Theatre, Coventry

Clayton Hotel, Birmingham

Ironbridge View Townhouse

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year

Burlton Cottages, Shrewsbury

Eaton Manor Country Estate, Church Stretton

Riverside Cabins, Shrewsbury

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

Escape Live, Birmingham

HMV Empire, Coventry

National Trust - Birmingham Back to Backs

Taste of the West Midlands

Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill, Birmingham

Hooray's Gelato Kitchen, Stratford-Upon-Avon

The Barn at Berryfields, Coventry

Tourism Event/Festival of the Year

Birmingham Cocktail Weekend

Coventry City of Culture

Shrewsbury Food Festival

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