Kent scoops tourism award

Above: Visit Kent chairman Amanda Cottrell receives the award for Best Tourism Website from Simon Calder

Kent‘s tourism industry has scooped top honours at Tourism South East’s prestigious Tourism ExSEllence Awards 2008.

Thirteen Kent businesses received accolades from the judges - who were looking for exceptional service and performance across the south east - with Visit Kent, Kent Conference Bureau and Deal-based guest house The Gardener’s Rest winning three categories.

Maidstone-based Kent Conference Bureau was first for Business Tourism, The Gardener’s Rest in Kingsdown, Deal was first in the Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation category and Visit Kent, the private and public partnership which promotes the county’s £2.3bn tourist industry, voted Best Tourism Website in 2008.

Among Kent’s other highly placed entrants were Canterbury Historic River Tours - runner-up for Best Tourism Experience; St Peter’s Village Tour, Broadstairs - highly commended for Best Tourism Experience; Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, - runner up for sport tourism; Joss Bay Surf School – highly commended for sports tourism; Chatham Historic Dockyard and Rochester Castle - highly commended for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year; the ABode, Canterbury - runner-up for Large Hotel/Townhouse of the Year; Royal Tonbridge Wells Tourist Information – highly commended in the TIC category; Rose and Crown near Faversham – highly commended for Sustainable Tourism and Alkham Court, Dover - highly commended for Bed & Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year.

The awards were attended by Visit Kent representatives, including chairman Amanda Cottrell and chief executive Sandra Matthews-Marsh, who commented: “Kent has again shown the strength of its tourism industry. To have so many businesses recognised at these awards is a real achievement and I am also delighted Visit Kent’s own website was recognised by the judges. We welcome 1.2 million users to the site, so it’s great to know we are sharing award-winning content with our visitors.”