Devon's Camping and Caravanning Park Award Winner

VISIT DEVON TOURISM AWARDS 2015 BREAK ALL RECORDS

The 6th annual Devon Tourism Awards, sponsored by Hoseasons, took place last night, on Thursday 26^th November, at Plymouth’s Holiday Inn on the Hoe. The glittering award ceremony was hosted by Judi Spiers with guest speaker Peter Gorton.

The sell-out awards, now featuring 24 award categories – an increase of 6 more categories from last year’s awards – celebrated the breadth of Devon’s tourism offer as a county, and showed the strength of the award’s finalists and winners, with the awards receiving174 entries. Awards organiser Robin Barker addressed the winners, saying:

“You are all very special – in an era of ever dwindling public sector funding you are the industry leaders who can take Devon forward. More and more it will be businesspeople like you that must take the lead in putting Devon at the fore, ensuring it is at the forefront of what is one of the fast growing and most competitive industries in the world.”

Paul Hardingham, Commercial Director at Headline sponsors Hoseasons, said: “We have nothing but admiration for the energy, commitment and dedication shown by this year’s award winners to making sure Devon remains a place people want to go on holiday. Each and every one of them fully deserves the recognition they have received and we wish them all the best for another successful year in 2016.”

The Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by Visit Devon was awarded to The Network Rail and Amco Rail team that brought the Dawlish rail line back to the region ahead of schedule and the Winner of Winners Award, sponsored by Great Western Railway, was awarded to Higher Wiscombe.

Victoria Hatfield, Chair of Visit Devon, said:“The quality of the visitor offering, that Devon delivers, increases year on year and this is testament to the dedication, commitment and investment from the businesses nominated in the Devon Tourism Awards this, and previous, years. The visitor economy in Devon is worth 2.3 billion to the local economy which, in turn, supports 62,451 jobs in the county. This is 12% of all employment in Devon and this is why we do what we do.”