Fifty-five Worcestershire businesses have been shortlisted as finalists in the Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards. The finalists, celebrated for their contribution to the local tourism sector, will now progress to the second round where they'll face a panel of independent industry experts, who after a series of site visits, will decide this year's winners. Councillor Adam Kent, cabinet member for economy and skills at Worcestershire County Council, said: "I am thrilled to see such a diverse and dynamic array of Worcestershire businesses shortlisted for this year's Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards.
"With 77 outstanding contenders across 55 businesses, it’s clear that our county continues to excel in providing exceptional tourism experiences." Among the finalists are Attwell Farm Park and West Midlands Safari Park, competing for the newly-created Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award. This category seeks to honour businesses championing inclusive tourism practices in Worcestershire.
Also new to this year's awards, Worcestershire's Tourism Unsung Hero Award is set to praise individuals going the extra mile in delivering exceptional visitor experiences. Shortlisted nominees for this category include Andrew Hurley from Avoncroft Museum and Grace Stringer Jukes from Piston Distillery. The awards attract attention beyond the local level, as winners are also shortlisted for national recognition at the Visit England Awards of Excellence.
Previous Worcestershire winners who have.