This year’s Dorset Tourism Awards are now open for entry and businesses from across Dorset including Swanage have just six weeks to submit their application.
Previous local winners of the awards, which are now in their 10th year, include the Swanage Information Centre team, Durlston Country Park, The Pig on the Beach Hotel and Burnbake Campsite.
The Swanage Information Centre team won Gold in 2019 and then went through to the South West awards and won that too
Free to enter
The awards, which are free to enter, offer businesses the chance to win not just locally, but to progress on to the regional South West awards and – for matching categories – the national Visit England awards.
The organisers say that entering the awards have a number of benefits, especially after such an extraordinary period for tourism, hospitality and the world, including increasing bookings, generating PR, free feedback and the boost they give to staff morale and recruitment.
Durlston Country Park not only won a Dorset Tourism Award and a South West award but also the national Visit Britain award for accessibility
All tourism-related businesses can apply
The 2022/23 awards cover the full range of tourism-related businesses including pubs, cafes and restaurants as well as accommodation, wedding and business venues, attractions, events and experiences.
There is an award for innovation and resilience, as well as opportunities to submit entries for unsung heroes, new businesses, dog friendly, accessibility, wildlife friendly and sustainability.
The Pig on the Beach Hotel at Studland won Gold in the small hotel of the year category at the 2021/22 Dorset Tourism Awards
“Make this a year to remember!”
Awards organiser Robin Barker said:
“I’m astounded that this is the 10th year of the Dorset Tourism Awards. Let’s have a record number of entries and make this a year to remember!”
Would-be entrants can attend a free online workshop to get more information and to guide them through the application process, with the first being on Thursday 12th May 2022.
Burnbake has been a finalist for the last two years
Backed by sponsors
The awards are supported by many sponsors and partners, which allows businesses to enter for free.
Deborah Heather, director of headline sponsors Quality in Tourism, said:
“The depth of commitment to excellence in Dorset continues to inspire and lead the way in the South West, which made the decision for Quality in Tourism to be headline sponsor once again for the season 2022/23 very simple. We are thrilled to be involved once again.”
The last in-person awards ceremony took place in 2019 at The Tank Museum
Awards ceremony
Over the last two years the awards ceremony has been held online but this year it’s highly likely that an actual evening event will be able to be held. In past years, the Dorset Tourism Awards ceremony has been held at The Tank Museum at Bovington.
All entries must be submitted online by midnight on Sunday 19th June 2022 but it’s recommended that businesses plan ahead and start as soon as possible. Organisers say that this deadline will not be extended.
Further information
- Full details of the awards and how to enter are on the Dorset Tourism Awards website
