Latest News
The Isles of Scilly scooped no less than seven gongs at last night’s dazzling Cornwall Tourism Awards which took place at the Headland Hotel, Newquay.
Hell Bay Hotel won Gold, for the fourth successive year, in the Hotel of the Year category; the World Pilot Gig Championships and Juliet’s Garden both won Silver awards in the Event of the Year and Café & Tearoom of the Year categories, respectively; whilst Carnwethers Country House Cottages (Sustainability Award), Tresco Spa (Spa & Wellbeing Experience Award); Teania St Martin’s (Self Catering Accommodation Award) and Karma St. Martin’s (Dog Friendly Business of the Year) each took Bronze.
This achievement for the islands is particularly significant given the record number of entries this year, which saw an increase to 195 entries in 25 different categories. The awards celebration was enhanced by an entertaining presentation from lyricist and cricket enthusiast Sir Tim Rice who shared anecdotes from his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Elton John.
“In the 15 years since the Cornwall Tourism Awards were launched, this was Scilly’s biggest ever haul, testimony to the islands’ growing confidence in delivering a fantastic tourism product,” says David Jackson, Executive Director, Islands’ Partnership (the Destination Management Organisation for the Isles of Scilly). “We truly hope, and believe, that our success this year – some by Scilly-based businesses who initially might not have considered putting themselves forward – will be the catalyst for even more accommodation providers, attractions and experiences to enter next year and beyond. It was a great night for the islands and a wonderful way to wrap up an excellent season.”
Awards organiser Robin Barker introduced the evening saying: “It always amazes me that this industry continues to innovate and excel. When I was first involved in tourism in Cornwall back in the early 90s, most leading businesses had never heard of ‘sustainable tourism’, it was the era when many were still arguing against the need for en-suite facilities, and the internet was described in a report by a tourism IT expert as having a “rather limited market segment”. “That was in 1997 … and now look at us! The excellence and innovation shown by the winners is literally stupendous.”
The successful finalists from Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly will be fast tracked into matching categories in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2017 and possibly invited to represent Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the 2017 National VisitEngland Awards in April.
The full list of finalists, including those who were Highly Commended (which included the Visit Isles of Scilly Tourist Information Centre), can be found on the Cornwall Tourism Awards website.
Upcoming Events
-
Thu08Dec201610am - 12 noonLifelong Learning Centre, St Mary's
-
Fri23Dec2016
-
Wed22Feb2017Thu23Feb2017Tregarthen's Hotel
-
Mon06Mar2017Fri10Mar2017PEC & LLL (TBC)
-
Sat25Mar2017Sun02Apr2017
-
Sat01Apr2017Fri07Apr2017Across the Islands
- Islands’ Partnership wins DEFRA grant to develop Food & Drink offering on Scilly
- “Sky, Sea, Sand” wins 2016 Scilly Photo Competition
- Record night for Scilly at Cornwall Tourism Awards 2016
- Voting underway for 2016 Photo Competition
- Philip Callan elected to IP board
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013