British Coach Tourism Awards: Finalists announced

The finalists of the 2019 British Coach Tourism Awards - the only national awards scheme to recognise and celebrate excellence and innovation across the coach tourism sector - have been announced.

Bournemouth & Poole, Burnham-On-Sea, Newmarket, Southport, and Wells are among the destinations up for the Coach Friendly Destination Award.

The winners will be announced at the glamorous black-tie awards ceremony taking place at the National Motorcycle Museum on 20 March 2019 and will be hosted by TV personality Carol Vorderman. Following the first day of the British Tourism & Travel Show, the British Coach Tourism Awards offers a rare opportunity to recognise the hard-work and dedication of some of the most talented coach tour operators, destinations, visitor attractions, hotels, and tourism industry suppliers across Britain.

The judging panel, chaired by David Maguire, group event director at Diversified Communications UK, includes John Wales, chairman of the Coach Tourism Association (CTA), Wendy Hartley-Scarff, CEO of the AGTO, and Steve Whiteway, former MD of Epsom Coaches.

David Maguire says: "The awards celebrate and recognise those who contribute to the continual growth and development of the vibrant coach tourism sector and continues to play a vital role in encouraging destinations and visitor attractions to improve the welcome they offer to coaches and groups. As in previous years, the calibre of entries has been incredible - congratulations and good luck to all our shortlisted finalists for 2019."

The British Coach Tourism 2019 finalists include:

Coach Friendly Destination

Bournemouth & Poole
Burnham-On-Sea
Newmarket
Southport
Wells

Coach Friendly Attraction

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
The Bishop's Palace
Blenheim Palace
Brick Lane Music Hall
The British Ironwork Centre
Chatsworth
Holkham
New Lanark Mills
RHS Gardens Wisley, Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall and Rosemoor
West Midland Safari Park
World of James Herriot

Cross-Sea Carrier - partnered by Edwards Coach Holidays

DFDS
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle
P & O Ferries

River and Inland Cruise Operator - partnered by DFDS

Princess River Cruises
Stuart Line Cruises
Ullswater Steamers
Windermere Lake Cruises
Lovers Canal Cruises

Heritage Railway- partnered by City Cruises

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
Swanage Railway
Vale of Rheidol Railway

Accommodation provider (Independent Hotels) - partnered by Independent Coach Travel

Hallmark Hotel Leyland, Preston
The Hallmark Queen Hotel, Chester
Mill Rythe Holiday Village / Away Resorts
The Portbyhan Hotel
Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton

Accommodation Provider (Hotel Groups) - partnered by Bakers Dolphin

Best Western Hotels GB
Classic Lodges
Hallmark Hotels
Hilton Worldwide
Warner Leisure Hotels

Tour Wholesaler and Industry Supplier- partnered by Planet Hollywood & The View from the Shard

Advantage Now
Action Tours
Ashley & Newey
Encore
Greatdays Travel Group
ICT Group Travel
Norman Allen Group Travel

Dining Experience

360 Cookhouse Restaurant
The British Ironwork Centre
Planet Hollywood
Poplars Garden Centre
Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton

Holiday Programme - partnered by Distinctive Systems

Bakers Dolphin
Crusader Holidays
Eastons Coaches
Edwards Coaches
Galloway Coach Travel
Glenton Holidays
Grand UK Holidays
Johnsons Coaches
Reays Coaches

Day Excursion Programme - partnered by P&O Ferries

Johnsons Coaches
Bakers Dolphin
Eastons Coaches
Gardiners NMC
Lucketts Travel
Richmond's Coaches

Coach Tourism Innovation of the Year - partnered by Eurotunnel

All About Tours - The Coach Café
Buzzlines Travel - Integrated Tour & Cruise Experience
Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton - Dinner Cruise
Teignbridge District Council - Coach Tour Survey
United Minibuses & Coaches - Online Live Pricing Tool

Coach Tourism Professional of the Year - partnered by Continuum

Kate Bastin - Bakers Dolphin
Suzanne Evans - Boon's Calibre Travel
Andrew Simpson - Classic Britain Hotels
Martin Slater - Greatdays Travel Group
Amy Lizzimore - Groups Direct
Kristy Elsmere - Woods Travel Ltd

Coach Tour Driver of the Year - partnered by Roadchef

Allan Lonsdale - Alfa Travel Ltd
Chris Nelson - Galloway Coach Travel
Ken Cato - Masons Minibus & Coach Hire
Barry Jolly - Woods Travel Ltd

Coach Tour Operator - Small Fleet (1-5 Coaches) - partnered by Warner Leisure Hotels

Acklams Coaches
Hough's of Lincolnshire
Masons Minibus & Coach Hire

Coach Tour Operator - Medium Fleet (6-15 Coaches) - partnered by Condor Ferries

Bluebird Coaches (Weymouth) Ltd
Crusader Holidays
Kirbys Coaches
United Minibuses & Coaches
Woods Travel Ltd

Coach Tour Operator - Large Fleet (more than 15 Coaches) - partnered by Condor Ferries

Bakers Dolphin
Edwards Coaches
Johnsons Coaches
Lucketts Travel
Shearings Holidays

The British Coach Tourism Recognition Award - partnered by Hilton Worldwide will also be announced.

The British Coach Tourism Awards will take place at the National Motorcycle Museum on 20 March 2019. For further information and to book tickets to attend, please visit http://www.britishcoachawards.co.uk/ticket-bookings.

Register for British Tourism & Travel Show

To register for a free trade ticket to British Tourism and Travel Show, please visit http://www.tourismshow.co.uk (direct link: https://eventdata.uk/Visitor/BTTS2019.aspx?TrackingCode=BTTS140).

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