West MidlandTourismAwards shorlist for 2023 is revealed
MORE than 30 different companies and venues have been named as finalists in the 2023 West Midlands Tourism Awards.
They include well-known large sites such as Coventry Cathedral and Birmingham’s Grand Hotel and smaller operators like Achill Guest House & Spa in Solihull and Riverside Cabins in Shrewsbury.
The annual awards, which are organised by inward investment agency West Midlands Growth Company, will celebrate achievement across 14 different categories at a ceremony in March, with finalists from a broad range of sectors including arts, accommodation and heritage.
As well as regional success, the winners on the night will automatically be entered in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023 for the chance to be recognised on a national level.
West Midlands Growth Company is responsible for delivering the Business and Tourism Programme which is a three-year initiative aiming to leverage the profile of the 2022 Commonwealth Games to attract more tourists and major events to this region and wider UK.
Andrew Lovett, chairman of the West Midlands tourism and hospitality advisory board, said: “The West Midlands Tourism Awards are once again set to honour those venues that make this region such an impressive and welcoming place to visit.
“Applications for these awards really do test the judges to undertake the most careful of analysis before arriving at the best of the best. In this respect, all nominations can be enormously proud. It’s been a significant year for the West Midlands, with Coventry wowing arts fans during its memorable 12 months as UK City of Culture, and the breathtaking 2022 Commonwealth Games attracting more than five million visitors to Birmingham city centre during the two-week sporting spectacle.
“While many people came for the games, it was the offering and welcome of our West Midlands tourism and hospitality venues which really struck a chord with visitors.
“Despite the strong headwinds affecting all our daily lives at the moment, we look forward with eager anticipation to celebrating our fantastic tourism offer and the people who have helped to make 2022 such a vibrant year.”
It is estimated the tourism sector contributed £10.1 billion to the West Midlands’ economy last year, attracting 102.3 million visitors as it started to recover from the outbreak and impact of the Covid pandemic.
It supported more than 101,000 fulltime equivalent jobs.
The 2023 West Midlands Tourism Awards takes place on March 16 at Grand Station in Wolverhampton, with comedian Shazia Mirza as host and entertainment from The Peaky Blinders band.