The West Midlands tourism sector paid tribute to the stars of its visitor-facing venues, with 13 prizes handed out at the 2022 West Midlands Tourism Awards (31 March).
Organisations from across the region’s accommodation, arts, food and drink, visitor attraction and heritage sectors were honoured with awards in categories including Experience of the Year, New Tourism Business and Accessible and Inclusive Tourism.
Held at Coombe Abbey in Coventry, this year’s ceremony marked the innovation, spirit and resilience of West Midlands tourism businesses in delivering a memorable welcome for the region’s visitors, following an unpredictable two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event was hosted by Satnam Rana, who spent a decade as arts and culture correspondent for BBC Midlands Today. The evening featured performances by Navkiran Kaur Mann and the Rosso Duo.
The awards are supported by the West Midlands Growth Company, one of the partners responsible for delivering the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme (BATP). The three-year initiative aims to leverage the profile of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to attract more tourists and major events to the West Midlands and wider UK.
Andrew Lovett, Chair of the West Midlands Regional Board for Tourism, said:
“The West Midlands Tourism Awards provided us with a lovely opportunity to get together and to say a loud collective thank you to the staff and owners at visitor attractions, accommodation and hospitality venues for the warmest of welcomes they’ve provided over the past two years.
“The tourism community has shown remarkable resilience and ingenuity in the way it has responded to and come through the pandemic. With restrictions and rules now removed, I hope that more people choose to visit the West Midlands and enjoy the once-in-a-generation summer of great festivals and events, led by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“My message to people working in tourism is to hold-on to your confidence and don’t forget that before the pandemic you were successful and highly valued by visitors for the experiences you brought to their lives. Success and growth is and will continue to return to our industry.”
The award winners (gold) and runners-up (silver) from the 2022 West Midlands Tourism Awards will automatically qualify for the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, held in the summer.
The West Midlands Tourism Awards 2022 winners included:
Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award
hmv Empire Coventry - GOLD
The Bear Grylls Adventure - SILVER
B&B and Guest House of the Year
Achill Guest House & Spa - GOLD
Broome Park Farm B&B - SILVER
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Riverside Cabins - GOLD
Love2Stay - SILVER
Wellbank Shepherds Huts - BRONZE
Experience of the Year
Roundhouse Birmingham - GOLD
Shakespeare Distiller - SILVER
Go Cotswolds - BRONZE
Large Hotel of the Year
The Belfy Hotel & resort - GOLD
Clayton Hotel Birmingham - SILVER
The Mount Hotel Country Manor - BRONZE
Park Regis Birmingham - 4TH PLACE
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford - GOLD
Coventry Cathedral - SILVER
Ikon Gallery - BRONZE
Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park - 4TH PLACE
New Tourism Business Award
hmv Empire Coventry - GOLD
Riverside Cabins - SILVER
Telegraph Hotel, Coventry - BRONZE
Pub of the Year
The Canal House - GOLD
Twisted Barrel Brewery and Tap House - SILVER
Resilience and Innovation Award
Black Country Living Museum Trust - GOLD
Sarehole Mill - SILVER
Telford Town Park - BRONZE
The Coffin Works - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Small Hotel of the Year
The Castle Hotel - GOLD
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
Ironbridge View Townhouse - GOLD
Springfield Barns Holiday Cottages - SILVER
Anglo Welsh the Narrowboat Holiday Company - BRONZE
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
The Coffin Works - GOLD
Shakespeare Distillery - SILVER
Wolverhampton Art Gallery - BRONZE
Taste of the West Midlands
Simpsons - GOLD
The Cross at Kenilworth - SILVER
Esquires Coffee - BRONZE
