BRUNEL’S ss Great Britain is celebrating regional award success for its venue hire and its accessibility for disabled visitors in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2009/2010.
The gold and silver winners and finalists are being revealed at 12 noon today (Monday, October 26) in the region’s most prestigious tourism awards.
Trustees, staff and volunteers at Brunel’s ss Great Britain will have to wait until November 23 to learn if they have won gold or silver in the ‘Business Tourism’ and ‘Access for All’ categories.
As an independent museum and visitor attraction – which receives no funding from government – Brunel’s ss Great Britain relies on its visitors and corporate and private venue hire, including weddings and civil partnerships, to generate revenue to care for the historic ship. Each year more than 150,000 visitors and 15,000 venue hire guests visit and enjoy events on board Brunel’s ss Great Britain.
Access for all is important to Brunel’s ss Great Britain – one of the world’s most accessible historic ships. There is an audio tour for people with visual impairments, a British Sign Language video tour, and lifts throughout the visitor attraction including the ship’s funnel.
Gold winners from the South West Tourism Excellence Awards are automatically put forward to the EnjoyEngland Excellence Awards.
The announcement follows success last year in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards for the ss Great Britain Trust’s Steward Bob Evans who was awarded ‘Outstanding Customer Service’ and ‘Winner of Winners’. He went on to win the EnjoyEngland Excellence Award for ‘Outstanding Customer Service’. And in 2007 Brunel’s ss Great Britain scooped the award for ‘Best Large Visitor Attraction’ in the South West and in England.
The South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2009/2010, in association with E-Strategy and South West Water, celebrate the ‘best in the South West' and aim to promote and reward the leading businesses and individuals in the tourism industry.
Visitors this school half-term will have the chance to check out the award-winning attraction and venue for themselves, and enjoy the special events from Mr Brunel, actor Martin Williamson in character and costume, the ‘Horrid Torrid Tales Trails’, and ‘Ratcatcher’s Halloween’ with storyteller Sarah Mooney.
Alistair Handyside, Chairman of South West Tourism, said: “Congratulations to the winners and finalists. Winning at the regional awards is a great achievement for any business especially more so in these economic times. These businesses have shown that customer care, staff training and continued investment have not faltered but have grown and they are committed to exceeding visitor expectations.”
Susannah Cole, Director of Development for Brunel’s ss Great Britain, said: “We are delighted with the announcement that judges have decided to recognise our venue hire business and our accessibility for visitors with disabilities.
“High levels of customer care, a stunning venue, and an events team dedicated to ensuring our clients have the very best experience are all important to Brunel’s ss Great Britain.
“We also have one of the world’s most accessible ships, with British Sign Language video tours, audio tours for the visually impaired and lifts for wheelchair users into the Dry Dock, in the Dockyard Museum, and on board in the ship’s funnel.”
Success is in addition to the many regional, national and international tourism, museum, heritage, access, customer service and education awards received to date.
Brunel’s ss Great Britain has also been shortlisted for ‘Best Attraction/ Theme Park’ in the British Travel Awards which will be announced on November 5.
South West Tourism Excellence Awards – winners and finalists:
• Winners and finalists in the ‘Access for All’ category, sponsored by Business Link, are Brunel’s ss Great Britain in Bristol; Atlantis Holiday Apartments, Torquay, Devon; Double Gate B&B, Wells, Somerset; Pollaughan Farm, Portscatho, Cornwall.
• Winners and finalists in the ‘Business Tourism’ category, sponsored by Space, are Brunel’s ss Great Britain in Bristol; Riviera International Conference Centre, Torquay, Devon, and Event Exeter, Exeter, Devon.
• Please see the South West Tourism website for all winner and finalist details, including other winners from Bristol.
For further information, pictures or interviews please call the ss Great Britain Trust’s Head of Marketing & Communications Dagmar Smeed on 0117 926 0680 ext 219. Journalists can receive up-to-date news alerts by registering on-line at www.ssgreatbritain.org.
Bookmark this page
What's this?