Norfolk businesses clean up at tourism awards

by JON WELCH Friday, November 5, 2010
6:46 PM

Businesses from Norfolk have won nine out of the 15 awards at a prestigious tourism awards event covering six counties.

Kelling Heath, at Weybourne, near Holt, led the way with three prizes at the 2010 East of England Tourism Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, which are open to entrants from Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

It won awards for best caravan/holiday village, sustainable tourism and best tourism experience of the year for its star party event.

Businesses in the Broads won four awards at the ceremony, held at the National Trust’s Ickworth House, near Bury St Edmunds.

Philip Search, Broad House Hotel, Wroxham, won the outstanding customer care category; Dairy Barns, Hickling, won bed and breakfast/guest accommodation of the year; East View Farm Holiday Cottages, Ashmanhaugh, near Stalham won self-catering holiday of the year; and Wroxham Barns won the Taste of England award.

Titchwell Manor on the North Norfolk coast won best small hotel and Norfolk Cottages at Gissing won the access-for-all prize.

The awards celebrate the best of English tourism. Regional winners go forward to the national awards next spring.

Mark Durrant, park manager at Kelling Heath, said: “As a holiday park we take great pride in being one of the best in East Anglia, particularly on account of the ongoing developments and enhancements we make to our offering year-on-year.

“Our unique blend of outdoor pursuits, high-quality accommodation and environmental awareness all set in this stunning location sets us apart from other destinations and we’re extremely proud to win this award.”

Director of Kelling Heath, Michael Timewell, said: “The EET Awards recognise excellence within our industry and to win three accolades, in the holiday village, sustainability and tourism experience categories is just reward for the commitment of the directors, management and staff, who have all played their part in the continuous development of this truly magnificent destination.”

Ian Hacon, chief executive of park owners Blue Sky Leisure, said: “For many years we’ve taken sustainability very seriously and have worked hard to develop key features of the park with this in mind.

“From solar panels and our bio-diesel processor to the formation of our in-house ‘green team’ we are becoming well known for our green credentials and, as such, are delighted to have been recognised for our work in this area.”

Lydia Smith, director of Norfolk Tourism, said: “This is a really wonderful result for Norfolk’s tourism industry.

“Our hearty congratulations go to Kelling Heath on its fantastic achievement and all the other winners who are truly first-class ambassadors for the whole county.” Ian Russell, the chairman of the Broads Tourism Forum, said: “The Broads Tourism Forum is very proud of our four winners, whose work has been recognised for enhancing the area’s visitor experience.

“This undoubtedly acknowledges our sustained drive for improved quality in the Norfolk Broads.”