Economy-boosting festival is in the running for top award
HUNDREDS of thousands of people descended on Gloucester in the summer for the “best Tall Ships Festival ever”.
The event reportedly gave the local economy an £11.2 million boost, which is said to be the equivalent of providing 200 full-time jobs for a year.
Now the three-day event has been nominated for an award by the National Outdoor Events Association.
The NOEA, which claims to be the UK’S leading outdoor events trade association, has nominated the Gloucester Tall Ships and Adventure Festival for the Event of the Year Award.
Susan Tanner, NOEA’S chief executive, said: “This year again saw an increase in entries, and the quality of submissions was also very high.
“Because of this, we had a longer finalist list, and it’s been a real challenge for our judges to decide on three or four shortlisted in each category.”
Chief executive of Marketing Gloucester, Jason Smith, said: “Being a finalist in a nationally important award is a testimony to the hard work of the team at Marketing Gloucester and the financial support of Gloucester City Council, Gloucester BID, Gloucester Quays and a host of other local sponsors which has led to the transformation of Gloucester Tall Ships and Adventure Festival into a city-wide event that attracts visitors from across the country and abroad and attracts worldwide publicity for the city of Gloucester.
“I am particularly proud that the small team at Marketing Gloucester punch so far above our weight in delivering not just this but multiple events that have helped make our city a vibrant, attractive place and drive trade to our businesses.”
The award-winners will be announced in November.
Alistair Turner, chair of the judging panel and managing director of EIGHT PR & Marketing, said: “It is a huge achievement for those shortlisted today and we look forward to seeing who is named as winners in November.”