THE winners of the Dorset Tourism Awards are celebrating after a glittering ceremony.

Parks, hotels, attractions and volunteers scooped the top spots at the inaugural event held at The Tank Museum, Bovington.

South and West Dorset shone in a range of categories and a total of 39 awards were presented to winners across the county.

Multiple winners included the BridgeHouse Hotel in Beaminster and West Dorset Leisure Holidays, which was named gold winner in two categories, with managing director Martin Cox receiving a special award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism’.

Mr Cox was praised for his 30 plus years of innovative contribution to tourism in Dorset, the South West and the holiday park sector.

Other gold winners included the Dorset Seafood Festival, Weymouth, Greenwood Grange, Dorchester and Highlands End Holiday Park in Bridport.

The Dorset Tourism Awards were launched in June this year, following extensive liaison between founder Robin Barker and local tourism leaders. Mr Barker said: “Dorset offers something special, yet for various reasons has not always punched its weight as a top destination – that’s why some 10 months ago my colleagues and I started liaising with the industry here in Dorset to assess the demand for your own Dorset Tourism Awards. “The response we had surprised us all.”

The awards attracted 60 entries in 12 different categories, each undergoing a rigorous three stage judging process including initial scoring, visits by a team of mystery shoppers and final assessment by an independent judging panel.

Professor Peter Jones, chairman of the panel, added: “Dorset can often be overlooked as a premier tourist destination, but the quality of our tourism businesses is testament to the excellence of which we should be proud.

“This is reflected in the submissions for the Dorset Tourism Awards and all entrants should be complimented on how well they contribute to what Dorset has to offer."

Around 160 guests enjoyed the ceremony surrounded by an array of tanks.

Andrew Alder, partner at headline sponsors Saffery Champness, said: “We are delighted that tonight’s Dinner at the Tank Museum is a sell-out.

“The support from entrants and other local organisations for this, the inaugural year of the awards, has been amazing and as part of the celebrations, we have decided to present a further special award this evening for the most entrepreneurial business.”

Successful businesses will now be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in January 2014 and then possibly on to the National Visit England Awards later next year.

THE 2013 WINNERS

BED & BREAKFAST AND GUEST ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Goadsby
GOLD
•        Launceston Farm B&B, Blandford Forum
SILVER
•        The Inn at Cranborne, Cranborne 
BRONZE
•        The White House, Charmouth

TOURISM INFORMATION SERVICE
Sponsored by Anytime Booking
JOINT GOLD
•        Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre, Lyme Regis 
•        Poole Welcome Centre, Poole 
BRONZE
•        Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Wareham

HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by NatWest 
GOLD
•        Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport 
SILVER
•        South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster 
BRONZE
•        Rockley Park, Hamworthy 

BEST TOURISM ACTIVITY, SPORT & EXPERIENCE
Sponsored by Take One Media
GOLD
•        National Trust Brownsea Island, Poole 
SILVER
•        Lyme Bay RIB Charter, Bridport 
BRONZE
•        Furleigh Estate,  Bridport 

SPECIAL ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
Sponsored by Saffery Champness
•        Beach Weddings Bournemouth

TOURISM EVENT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Bournemouth University – School of Tourism
GOLD
•        Dorset Seafood Festival, Weymouth 
SILVER
•        Rallye Sunseeker 2012 and 2013, Poole 
BRONZE
•        The British Beach Polo Championships, Poole 
COMMENDED
•        Sherborne Abbey Festival, Sherborne

HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Clockwork Hospitality
GOLD
•        BridgeHouse Hotel, Beaminster 
SILVER
•        Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne 
BRONZE
•        Hotel Miramar, Bournemouth

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
Sponsored by A Head for PR
GOLD
•        Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport
SILVER
•        Captains Club Hotel, Christchurch 

SELF CATERING ESTABLISHMENT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Pavey Group -
GOLD
•        Greenwood Grange, Dorchester 
SILVER
•        Dove House and Swallows, Dorchester

COMMENDED SELF CATERING AGENCY
•        Dream Cottages, Weymouth 

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
Sponsored by Source for Business -
GOLD
•        Geof Curtis of National Trust Brownsea Island, Poole 

EATING OUT AWARD
Sponsored by Darren Northeast PR
GOLD
•        Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne 
JOINT SILVER
•        Arbor Restaurant at The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth 
•        Highcliff Grill at the Marriott, Bournemouth 
BRONZE
•        Beaminster Brasserie, Beaminster 

VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Resort South West 
GOLD
•        National Trust – Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster
SILVER
•        The Tank Museum, Bovington 
JOINT BRONZE
•        Farmer Palmers  , Organford 
•        Sandworld, Weymouth

TOURISM PUB OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Horsey Lightly Fynn -
GOLD
•        The Inn at Cranborne, Cranborne 
JOINT BRONZE
•        Lulworth Cove Inn, West Lulworth
•        The Old Granary, Wareham 

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO TOURISM
Sponsored by Services for Tourism 
•        Martin Cox, Managing Director of West Dorset Leisure Holidays

WINNER OF WINNERS
Sponsored by the Dorset LEP
• Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne