Pubs urged to enter North East England Tourism Awards

Landlords are being urged to celebrate their pub’s success by putting themselves forward for the North East England Tourism Awards 2014.

The annual awards look to find the region’s Best Tourism Pub, with the winner going on to represent the North East at VisitEngland’s Excellence Awards.

And with two weeks to go until entries close organisers the NewcastleGateshead Initiative hope to see publicans riding the positive wave created by the region’s recent £1m airport ad contest win to showcase all the great things that they do.

“The passion and pride for the North East demonstrated during the course of the Heathrow Airport competition was overwhelming,” said Sarah Stewart, chief executive at marketing organisation the NewcastleGateshead Initiative, who organise the awards.

“I’d urge visitor facing businesses and organisations to channel that same pride for their own achievements and enter the North East England Tourism Awards.

“The Awards are a fantastic way to not only celebrate success, but provide another opportunity to showcase the best of what’s on offer in the region, with winners having the chance to compete nationally at VisitEngland’s Excellence Awards.”

Last year seven North East businesses went on to see success nationally after winning a North East England Tourism Award, including County Durham’s South Causey Inn, which was highly commended.

Seahouses’ St Cuthbert’s House also took gold in the Bed & Breakfast of the Year category, and boss Jeff Sutheran said the awards offer a great chance for businesses to measure themselves against the best in the region.

“The opportunities that winning the award bring, to tell our own ‘good news story’, are not to be underestimated,” said Jeff, who owns and runs St Cuthbert’s House with his wife Jill.

“The Awards process is a key tool for reviewing and measuring our own performance at the highest level, and for raising the profile of our business.”

This year’s awards, which are organised by the NewcastleGateshead Initiative on behalf of the Northern Tourism Alliance, will take place on November 11 at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

David Hall, head of leisure, strategy and transformation at Northumbrian Water – which is one of the event’s main sponsors – said he was delighted to be backing the awards once again.

“Tourism is hugely important to us,” he said. “And the North East England Tourism Awards are a fantastic opportunity for businesses to showcase their product and provide a focus for improvement in quality for visitors to the North East.”

Entries to the North East England Tourism Awards close on Friday September 5.

For more information on how to enter visit the website, www.NorthEastTourismAwards.com, or email TourismAwards@ngi.org.uk.