Major employer offers support to Northumberland Tourism Awards

The Banks Group has come on board by sponsoring the Large Visitor Attraction award, appropriate given that the firm created Northumberlandia – the Lady of the North.

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at the Banks Group, said: “Northumberland is an extremely varied, fascinating and special place, and its reputation as a visitor destination is continuing to grow very rapidly both at home and abroad.

“As a long-standing investor and major employer in Northumberland, as well as the company behind the creation of Northumberlandia, which has very quickly become one of its best-known tourist attractions, the Banks Group is pleased to give its support to the Northumberland Tourism Awards.”

The awards ceremony is on Thursday, June 22.

As well as celebrating the best of Northumberland’ businesses and attractions, the winners will be entered into the North East England Tourism Awards, which take place each November.

With that in mind, the award categories mirror those in the regional contest: Boutique Accommodation/Small Hotel; Bed and Breakfast; Dog Friendly Business; Holiday Park; Hotel; Inclusive Tourism; Large Visitor Attraction; Self-Catering Property; Small Visitor Attraction; Sustainable Tourism Award; Taste Award; Tourism Pub of the Year.

Additionally at our awards, there will be prizes for the best Wedding Venue, Family Day Out (public vote) and an overall prize.

There are separate entry forms for all the different categories, complete with guidance on how to fill them in from Northumberland Tourism, and they all can be downloaded here – tinyurl.com/kk7c2zwThe forms must be returned to [email protected] with the subject Northumberland Tourism Awards by Saturday, May 27.

This deadline was extended after the awards were put back a fortnight because of a clash with the General Election. A shortlist will be published on Thursday, June 1.