Held annually, the Cumbria Tourism Awards focus on rewarding staff, recognising quality and excellence and celebrating the achievements of both individuals and businesses in the Cumbria region as a whole.

This year the awards ceremony will be held at the Castle Green Hotel, in Kendal on Tuesday, 13 May and will be split into two categories, the People Awards and the Business Awards.

With Cumbria’s visitor economy supporting over 36,000 people, the People Awards recognise their outstanding achievement, loyalty and dedication whilst also promoting tourism as a challenging, rewarding and exciting career.

They also recognise those businesses who have invested in staff training and skills development.

Categories will include: Most Outstanding Customer Service; Unsung Hero; Most Exceptional Young Tourism Manager; Most Valuable Volunteer; Best New Entrant to the Industry; Tourism Team of the Year and finally, The Lady Inglewood Award for Innovative People Management.

The winning individuals and teams in the People Awards will receive a cheque for £200.00. The business categories recognise the high standards of quality and excellence offered across Cumbria’s range of tourism businesses. Winners have to demonstrate excellence and innovation throughout their business. Included in this category will be the Taste of Cumbria Award, which is aimed at all sectors in the industry who create a taste experience and are committed to sourcing or producing their food locally.

The winners from the Business Awards go forward to the Northwest regional final and those winners go through to VisitBritain’s national awards.

Entry forms can be downloaded from: www.cumbriatourism.org/awards and businesses and or individuals can enter as many different categories as they wish. Completed entry forms must be returned to Cumbria Tourism by Friday 29th February 2008. For further information, please don’t hesitate to contact Paula Scott by either telephone: 01539 825 050 or email: [email protected]