Say hello to our line-up of 10 fantastic finalists for the 2023 Tourism Superstar award.
This coveted accolade is your chance to choose a staycation hero as we celebrate workers who go the extra mile to ensure a memorable holiday or day trip for visitors.
It’s the 11th anniversary of the prize which is jointly run by Mirror Travel and national tourist board VisitEngland.
Local tourist boards across England submitted hundreds of nominations and our panel of judges then whittled them down to a shortlist of 10 for a nationwide public vote – and now you can read about them here.
How to vote
Simply watch the video above - or check out the finalists' profiles below - and cast your vote for your holiday hero on the form below. Take note - you can only vote once!
The ballot closes at midnight on March 20 and our winner will be announced on March 25.
For vote updates and the current leaders, look on Twitter for @ TravelEdNigel @ MirrorTravel @ VisitEngland and @ VisitEnglandBiz.
Dave Paynter, reserve manager, WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
Last year marked Dave’s 40th anniversary of working for Slimbridge wetland reserve and his contribution has been immense.
Over four decades he’s never stopped thinking how it can be improved, and the wetland habitats and the species Slimbridge support throughout the year are now hugely more diverse because of his work.
Equally well known for how he helps visitors embrace that wildlife, he embraces YouTube and TV as an important way of getting the conservation message across and connecting the public with nature.
He introduced important waterscapes, including South Lake, which is used by breeding species such as the avocet and common crane.
South Lake is seen as one of Dave’s greatest achievements as it’s now one of the best birding spots in the UK.
Geoff Colvin, chief stationmaster, Kent & East Sussex Railway
Geoff joined as a K&ESR volunteer at the start of the pandemic, working at a time when its 500 volunteers were needed more than ever to secure the heritage line’s survival.
He quickly proved to be both a dedicated and inspirational team player and communicator and, while his first role was in the booking office, it wasn’t long before he was helping in other areas, contributing ideas and suggestions.
Most importantly, he is appreciated by visitors and passengers – from assisting the oldest who may need his help on the platform, to talking to the youngest who are filled with wonder at seeing a steam train for the first time.
His enthusiasm and love for what he does are a shining example of the difference that volunteers make in a heritage tourism setting.
Geoff Rose, front desk volunteer, Shaldon Wildlife Trust, Devon
Volunteers are at the zoo to staff the desk, but Geoff will do any other job that needs doing to keep himself busy in quiet times.
For example, he spent time learning about the animals in the Forest At Night room and took it upon himself to personally show visitors around the nocturnal area, earning great visitor reviews on Google and Tripadvisor.
Geoff also took the main role in the Christmas Grotto, growing his beard out especially for his time as Santa, and looks for ways to promote the zoo, actively advertising it to anyone who will listen.
Always willing to take on a task, he is an amazing ambassador for the zoo and guests are always in good hands and in for a great visit.
Jane Dixon, ranger at Jane’s Beach School, Northumberland
After losing her 10-year role as a National Trust ranger when the pandemic hit, Jane established her beach school in July 2021 with a single guided ‘Seashore Safari’ experience at Seahouses.
She saw opportunity in adversity when the Northumberland coast experienced a surge in post-Covid visitors, and an opportunity to help visitors rediscover open spaces and to educate and influence their behaviour.
Jane’s primary tour objective is to connect visitors with nature and to bring compassion and respect for the secret world of the rock pools using her marine biology knowledge gained from Newcastle University.
Both enthusiastic and easily understandable, she supports sustainable tourism and youth and community groups, assists children and adults with hidden disabilities such as autism, and has forged connections with local holiday cottage operators to the benefit of visitors.
John Consterdine, Manchester Taxi Tours
John is a qualified tour guide and licensed taxi driver who uses an electric cab for his trips – the hi-tech, accessible vehicle carries six passengers, and a glass sunroof gives a terrific view.
The pandemic and lockdowns badly hit John’s business. But he tried to remain positive and used his downtime to build a new website and used social media to post videos and articles every day, interacting with people from all over the world.
John also devised The Afternoon Tea Taxi Tour, teaming up with award-winning patisserie Slattery of Whitefield to provide a unique experience combining two British icons which has achieved UK and global media exposure.
With an in-depth view of Manchester and all things Mancunian, John prides himself on a friendly, professional service and gets many reviews from happy clients.
Luke Henshaw, classic vehicle restoration apprentice, Great British Car Journey, Ambergate, Derbyshire
Luke joined aged 17 in 2021 as the museum’s first apprentice and the first heritage skills apprentice in Derbyshire.
The apprenticeship aims to preserve skills and knowledge which have faded over the past 30 years and Luke is developing his talent using spanners rather than computers which will ensure the future preservation of historic British vehicles at the museum.
Luke is also under double scrutiny at the attraction as the workshop is open to visitors and he is asked questions by members of the public about the vehicle he is working on. And amid the interest in the classic car museum from the media he has appeared on TV too.
Museum bosses consider Luke to be an asset to the classic car industry as a whole – they see him as a custodian of the UK’s automotive design and manufacturing heritage which is celebrated at the attraction.
Michael Wilson, official King’s guide to the Kent Estuary, Morecambe Bay, Cumbria
Michael is a local fisherman and, having spent many years on the sands with his father, grandfather and great grandfather, knows well the dynamics of Morecambe Bay and its dangerous quicksands and fast-flowing tides.
He took on his role in 2017 and takes walkers out on selected bay walk weekends with low tides.
After halting for the pandemic, and supported by his partner Joanne and a team of 30 volunteer marshals, he again offers a unique experience and helps charity groups from all over the UK raise huge sums of money.
It takes a vast amount of knowledge and experience to safely guide people across the bay’s sands and in 2022 he hosted 9,621 walkers from Arnside to Grange-over-Sands, helping them to raise £632,000 for 43 different charities. Michael has even guided groups of horses and naturists across.
Navnit 'Yogi' Jogi, welcome ambassador, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games cultural festival and Gamestime
Yogi worked from March to October across the West Midlands and was regarded as the ultimate ambassador.
He made every interaction a special moment for the visitor, taking time to chat and, more often than not, share a laugh with those he met. There were photos galore, many shared by guests on social media channels.
Always well turned out in his Peaky Blinders suit and cap (minus razor blades!), Yogi loved his role as ambassador and his enthusiasm was infectious, which rubbed off on his colleagues and visitors.
He would go out of his way to help people find what they were looking for and totally understood the mission to “make someone’s day”.
Stonehenge – Stone Circle experience hosts: Chris Burdon, Emily Sellors, Jonny Galpin-Sanders, Anthony Lewis
English Heritage, as caretaker of the stones, has to limit the number of people going inside the circle to protect the fragile archaeology.
However, people who book to come outside of normal visiting hours for a Stone Circle Experience can get better access. Accompanied by a host, small groups can walk among the stones in the early morning and late evening when the site is closed to the general public.
Hosts are brilliant at engaging visitors with their passion for the monument, their knowledge of its history and their enthusiasm for the job.
They are master multi-taskers, also resolving booking problems, dealing with late arrivals and ensuring the safety of both the visitors and the stones.
Their unwavering commitment ensures everyone who visits Stonehenge has the experience of a lifetime.
Tobie Airey, head of visitor happiness, Huckleberry Woods Micro Animal Adventures, Faversham, Kent
Tobie is the shining star of this attraction and does everything possible to make visitors’ time there happy and memorable.
She welcomes each guest by name and, when they leave at the end of their visit, she waves them a cheery goodbye and reminds them to share photos and leave reviews.
During pandemic closures, Tobie made coats for the animals, painted signs with all the animals’ names and made a costume for the 5ft tall Huckleberry Duck character.
Tobie suffers from some medical conditions and if she can’t manage to help with an animal walk occasionally she’ll be sewing something for the animals or staffing the cafe area.
She’s unfailingly encouraging, enthusiastic and joyful, and encapsulates the vibe at Huckleberry Woods.
