Winners of the 2021/22 Dorset Tourism Awards enjoyed an extra celebration at a spring party for 120 recipients and sponsors.

Three special prizes were announced at the event, held at Sculpture by the Lakes at Pallington near Dorchester.

A special apprenticeship award was presented to Jill Meyerhoff, of Hall and Woodhouse, pictured, by John Heather from NFU Mutual Bournemouth.

Explaining the award, John said: “The individual and company I’m giving the award to has in its values that every team member progresses on the basis of talent, dedication and performance with no limit as to what they can achieve.

“This is reflected in their recent apprenticeship programme where, working with Dorset Council, they built a programme for teenagers reaching the end of care, a programme that was very successful.”

A second surprise award was the Outstanding Contribution to Dorset Tourism.

It was presented to Richard Smith, Chair of Dorset Tourism Association and Director of The Tank Museum.

Sara Uzzell, Deputy Chair of Dorset LEP, who announced the award, said: “Over 16 years Richard has developed The Tank Museum to be one of Dorset’s best and most successful visitor attractions.

“On top of his tank-filled day-job, Richard has endless energy for making the entire Dorset tourism sector a huge success.

“He champions all hospitality and tourism businesses, across Dorset.

“He lobbies stakeholders, he fights for funding and he promotes talent, engagement and product development.

“Dorset is a better place for visitors and businesses thanks to Richard’s passion for collaboration and excellence.”

The final award of the night was the Winner of Winners Trophy presented by Awards Organiser Robin Barker to West Bay Discovery Centre, pictured.

Robin said: “There are no set criteria for this award but one entrant won in several categories and has now gone on to be a national finalist.

“A fabulous exemplar to others, they won a gold award for Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism, a further gold for Visitor Information, and bronze for Small Visitor Attraction.

“The Winner of Winners is West Bay Discovery Centre.”

The spring party was a welcome opportunity for tourism winners, leaders and sponsors to meet face-to-face and receive their Stuart Wiltshire glass trophies.

They also enjoyed an al fresco barbecue prepared in the new kitchen at Sculpture by the Lakes, designed and built by sculptor Simon Gudgeon.

The event was also able to celebrate the four Dorset businesses who have been announced as finalists in the national VisitEngland awards.

They are:

• Nothe Fort,
• West Bay Discovery Centre
• All Hallows Farmhouse Cookery School
• The Acorn Inn.

The four will have to wait until the national awards ceremony on June 8 at the Library of Birmingham to find out if they’ve won Gold, Silver or Bronze.

Deborah Heather from headline sponsors Quality in Tourism said: “Quality in Tourism takes great pride in being headline sponsor for the Dorset awards and celebrating truly inspirational businesses.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be part of the awards.”

The 2022/23 Dorset Tourism Awards are now open for entry with a deadline of June 19.

More details at: dorsettourismawards.org.uk

• See all the winners of the 2021/22 Dorset Tourism Awards here.