Seventeen Dorset businesses are through to the finals of the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2019/20.

They include the Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth (Business Event Venue of the Year), Christchurch Harbour Hotel (Large Hotel of the Year), Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum in Dorchester (Small Visitor Attraction of the Year) and South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park (Touring Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year).

In total, more than 100 tourism businesses from across the South West have been named among the finalists.

The awards saw a record 773 entries from the region including Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bath, Bristol, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

They will be presented at a black tie dinner in Exeter Cathedral on February 6, 2020.

Robin Barker, Director of Services for Tourism Ltd.

Robin Barker, Director of Services for Tourism Ltd, which manages the awards, said: “Our team members continue to be humbled by the excellence and ambition we see among our leading tourism businesses.

“They continue to invest, innovate and improve – and I offer them all our congratulations.”

The Dorset businesses went through to the finals of the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2019/20 after winning their respective categories at the Dorset Tourism Awards in October.

The event, sponsored by Saffery Champness Chartered Accountants, was held at The Tank Museum, Bovington.

The 17 Dorset regional finalists are:

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD, sponsored by Purple Cloud Consultancy

• Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve

BUSINESS EVENT VENUE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Elavon

• Marsham Court Hotel

CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Owens Coffee

• The Gallery Café
• Yellow Bicycle Café

ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD, sponsored by NFU Mutual

• Bagwell Farm Touring Park

FORTHGLADE DOG FRIENDLY PUB OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Forthglade

• The Grove Arms

HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Stephens Scown solicitors

• Highlands End Holiday Park

LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Hotel Perfect

• Christchurch Harbour Hotel

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD, sponsored by Soundview

• West Bay Discovery Centre

PUB OF THE YEAR

• Three Horseshoes Pub & Kitchen

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR

• Greenwood Grange

SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Pear Communications

• Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum

SPA & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Jarrang

• Mellulah Therapy & Yoga Retreats

TOURING CAMPING AND CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Anytime Booking

• South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Dorset 

TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR, sponsored by The Met Office

• The Tank Museum – Tankfest

TOURISM INNOVATION AWARD, sponsored by Club Wifi

• Yellow Buses

VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by MiHi Digital

• Swanage Information Centre