RECORD RESULT FOR SOUTH EAST TOURISM BUSINESSES
Friday, April 21, 2006: Tourism South East (TSE) are delighted to announce that a record number of awards have been won by tourism businesses in the South East at the National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2006, known to the industry as the tourism 'Oscars'.
After a celebration Champagne afternoon tea at the Savoy a total of five tourism businesses - winners of the Tourism South East Tourism ExSEllence Regional Awards - were presented with their trophies at a glamorous awards ceremony held at Madame Tussaud's in London on Thursday April 20.
Winchester Tourism Information Centre (TIC) in Hampshire won the top gold award for TIC of the Year. With over 200,000 visitors Winchester TIC shows great innovation in its field from the introduction of braille city maps, visitor trails by wheelchair and environmental bikeabout schemes to MP3 city guides and a weddings and special occasions service. The TIC also runs seminars for local businesses on topics such as e-business.
The judges described Winchester TIC as offering: "Attention to detail and excellent email response combined with innovation including the café and MP3 download tours, making this TIC a winner." 
Tylney Hall Hotel, Sandy Balls Holiday Centre, Waddesdon Manor and Kevin Cook, Town Sargeant from The Guildhall (Sandwich Town Council) were also finalists at last nights awards, in recognition of their contribution to tourism.
Tylney Hall Hotel in Rotherwick scooped up the silver award for Large Hotel of the Year, Sandy Balls Holiday Centre in the New Forest won the silver award for Caravan Holiday Park of the Year, Waddesdon Manor in Aylesbury achieved silver award for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and Kevin Cook, Town Sargeant from The Guildhall (Sandwich Town Council) won his silver award for Outstanding Customer Service. 
Judith Barratt, TSE Head of Strategic Partnerships and Communications said: "We are proud to have such a large number of award winners in the South East - more, in fact than any other part of England. These organisations make major contribution to the quality of the tourism experience our visitors receive and we are delighted they have been identified as being the best in the country."
HRH The Duke of Gloucester, guest of honour at the awards ceremony said: "The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence highlight the very best that England has to offer. Each winner is a fine example of English excellence and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting those dedicated people responsible for the very best hotels, attractions and other tourism businesses in England."
Entry details for Tourism South East's 2006 Tourism ExSEllence Awards will be available at the beginning of May. Further information is available from TSE by contacting Jodie Hodge on 023 8062 5502 or jhodge@tourismse.com
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For further information please contact Jodie Hodge, TSE Corporate Communications, on 023 8062 5502 or jhodge@tourismse.com .
Notes to Editor
* Tourism South East is the strategic tourism body for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
* TSE Tourism ExSEllence Awards are the South East regional heats for the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence. They are the most prestigious regional accolades of their kind, identifying, recognising and rewarding tourism companies achieving the highest possible standards in 14 different categories.
* The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2006,organised by VisitBritain and sponsored by the Caravan Club, celebrate the best of English tourism. Now in their 17th year, the Awards are known throughout the industry as the 'Oscars' of tourism. They promote healthy industry competition and high standards, helping to ensure England's place as a world-class destination.
* There are twelve different categories, from visitor attractions to hotels to self-catering accommodation and caravan parks. Entries are submitted to the regional tourism partners and then short listed to the national finals, culminating in the Awards ceremony in April.
* VisitBritain is responsible for promoting Britain as a world-class tourist destination and for developing England's visitor economy. It has offices and representatives in 36 countries around the world and in the last three years, has expanded into China, throughout Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, and increased its presence in India with new representatives in Bangalore and Mumbai. An archive of media releases and more details about the work of VisitBritain in promoting Britain as a destination, can be found on the new online press centre, www.enjoyengland.com/presscentre
* The Caravan Club - As Europe's premier touring organisation, The Caravan Club represents the interests of over 900,000 caravan, motor caravan and trailer tent owners. The Club operates the largest privately owned network of quality sites in the UK, together with a further 2,500 Certificated Locations (sites that take a maximum of five outfits). For more information visit The Club's award-winning website at www.caravanclub.co.uk. For more press information please contact The Caravan Club Press Office on 01342 336664 or 01342 336768, or email press@caravanclub.co.uk.
* VisitBritain's nine Regional Tourism Organisations are: Tourism South East, East of England Tourist Board, East Midlands Tourism, Heart of England Tourism, Visit London, One NorthEast, Northwest Regional Development Agency, South West Tourism and the Yorkshire Tourist Board.
