A RECORD-breaking Dorset Tourism awards is set to honour some of the county's best businesses and individuals.

This year’s awards will see a record 60 trophies presented to Dorset’s leading tourism businesses and individuals at the ceremony at the Tank Museum on October 13.

This year there has been a 40 percent increase in entries and close competition between the best across the industry.

Entrants faced a three-stage judging process, taking in to account websites, reviews, social media and a widespread programme of mystery visits.

The judging panel then met on September 8 to see the evidence and make their decision.

There was 107 entries across 20 categories, with new awards this year for glamping, dog friendly businesses and international tourism.

There was finalists from across the county including Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport.

Nick Fernyhough, of headline sponsors Saffery Champness and a member of the judging panel, said: “We are delighted to be the headline sponsor for yet another year for these prestigious Awards which reward excellence in this essential sector of the Dorset economy. “We really like how the Awards have expanded to reflect the changing shape of tourism.”

Finalists will have to wait until the ceremony to see if they have been awarded a gold, silver or bronze award.

Robin Barker of Services for Tourism, who created and manage the awards programme, said: “Dorset is one of England’s most spectacular and attractive destinations with many outstanding tourism businesses. “It is gratifying to see them being identified in this growing programme and to reward them for their innovation, dedication and excellence.”

Successful businesses in the Dorset Awards will automatically be considered for matching categories in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2017 with the chance to go on to represent Dorset at the national VisitEngland Awards later in the year.

Finalists include Sandworld, Weymouth, which is in the small attraction of the year award category; Taste Brasserie, Dorchester, in the café and tearoom of the year category; Swallows Rest B&B, Weymouth, for bed and breakfast of the year and the Dorset Burger Company, Weymouth for restaurant or bistro of the year.

Other finalists include Monkey World, in the large attraction of the year category; The Acorn Inn, Dorchester in the tourism pub of the year category and Greenwood Grange for the self-catering award.

Further information from www.dorsettourismawards.org.uk

FULL LIST OF FINALISTS

Sponsored by Saffery Champness www.saffery.com

(In alphabetic order)  

Small Hotel / Boutique Accommodation of the Year – sponsored by Laceys Solicitors, www.laceyssolicitors.co.uk

Best Western The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne – www.thegrangeatoborne.co.uk

Cliff House Hotel, Bournemouth – www.cliffhouse-hotel.com

The Grove Hotel Bournemouth, Bournemouth – www.thegrovebournemouth.co.uk

The Kings Arms, Christchurch – www.thekings-christchurch.co.uk

Small Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Darren Northeast, www.darrennortheast.co.uk

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth – www.russellcotes.com

Sand World Weymouth, Weymouth – www.sandworld.co.uk

The Town Mill, Lyme Regis – www.townmill.org.uk

Camping, Caravanning & Holiday Park of the Year – sponsored by Hoseasons, www.hoseasons.co.uk

Newlands Holiday Park, Charmouth – www.newlandsholidays.co.uk

South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Poole – www.southlytchettmanor.co.uk

Wareham Forest Tourist Park, Wareham – www.warehamforest.co.uk

Access & Inclusivity Award – sponsored by Purple Cloud, www.purplecloudconsultancy.co.uk

Ellwood Cottages, Blandford Forum – www.ellwoodcottages.co.uk

Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, Ashley Heath – www.moors-valley.co.uk

Café & Tearoom of the Year – sponsored by The Hotel & Catering Show, www.hotel-expo.co.uk

Little Pickle Deli Café, Boscombe – www.littlepickledelicafe.co.uk

Symondsbury Kitchen, Bridport – www.symondsburykitchen.com

Taste Brasserie, Dorchester – www.tastebrasserie.co.uk

Tourism Event & Festival of the Year – sponsored by Bournemouth University, www.bournemouth.ac.uk

Dorset Chilli Festival, Blandford Forum – www.greatdorsetchillifestival.co.uk

Shake and Stir Vintage Festival, Bournemouth – www.facebook.com/shakeandstirvintagefest

Stompin’ on the Quomps Community Interest Company, Christchurch – www.stompin.org

Tankfest, The Tank Museum, Bovington – www.tankmuseum.org

Highly commended

Bournemouth Wheels Festival, Bournemouth – www.bournemouthwheels.co.uk

Bed & Breakfast of the Year – sponsored by Goadsby, www.goadsby.com

Dorset House, Lyme Regis – www.dorseethouselyme.com

Swallows Rest B & B, Weymouth – www.swallowsrestbedandbreakfast.co.uk

The Swanage Haven, Swanage – www.swanagehaven.com

Venue & Business Tourism Award – sponsored by Saffery Champness, www.saffery.com

BH Live in partnership with Business Events Bournemouth, Bournemouth www.bhlive.org.uk/business

Symondsbury Estate, Bridport – www.symondsburyestate.co.uk

The Italian Villa, Poole – www.the-italian-villa.co.uk

Tourist Information Service of the Year – sponsored by Resort Marketing, www.resortmarketing.uk

Bournemouth Tourism Information Centre, Bournemouth – www.bournemouth.gov.uk

Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Wareham – www.visitswanageandpurbeck.co.uk

Swanage Tourist Information Centre, Swanage – www.swanage.gov.uk

Tourism Experience of the Year – sponsored by Real Recruitment Solutions, www.realrecruitmentsolutions.co.uk

Dorset Day Trips, Poole – www.dorsetdaytrips.co.uk

Go Ape Moors Valley, Ringwood – www.goape.co.uk/moors-valley

RNLI College, Poole – www.rnli.org/college

RockReef on Bournemouth Pier, Bournemouth – www.rockreef.co.uk

Unsung Hero Award for Customer Service – sponsored by Bournemouth Water Business Services, www.bournemouthwater.co.uk

Award will be announced on the night

Sustainable Tourism Award – sponsored by Dorset Cereals, www.dorsetcereals.co.uk

Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth – www.bagwellfarm.co.uk

Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, Ashley Heath – www.moors-valley.co.uk

International Visitor Experience of the Year – sponsored by The Italian Villa, www.the-italian-villa.co.uk

Lancombe Country Cottages & Lodges, Dorchester – www.lacombe.co.uk

The Tank Museum, Bovington – www.tankmuseum.org

Large Hotel of the Year – sponsored by Nat West, www.natwest.com

Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa, Christchurch – www.christchurch-harbour-hotel.co.uk

Hilton Bournemouth, Bournemouth – www.hilton.com

The PIG – on the beach, Swanage – www.thepighotel.com

Highly commended

RNLI College, Poole – www.www.rnli.org/college

Large Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Take One Media, www.takeonemedia.co.uk

Farmer Palmers Farm Park, Poole – www.farmerpalmers.co.uk

Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre, Wareham – www.monkeyworld.org

Swanage Railway, Swanage – www.swanagerailway.co.uk

Tourism Pub of the Year – sponsored by Porter Dodson, www.porterdodson.co.uk

The Acorn Inn, Dorchester – www.acorn-inn.co.uk

The Anchor Inn, Seatown – www.theanchorinnseatown.co.uk

The White Post, Rimpton – www.thewhitepost.com

Dog Friendly Business of the Year – sponsored by Aztec Media, www.aztec4design.com

B +B Weymouth, Weymouth – www.bb-weymouth.com

Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth – www.bagwellfarm.co.uk

The Grove Arms, Shaftesbury – www.grovearms-ludwell.co.uk

Glamping Business of the Year – sponsored by Booking.com, www.booking.com

Caalm Camp, Shaftesbury – www.dorsetyurtcampsite.co.uk

The Old Forge, Shaftesbury – www.theoldforgedorsset.co.uk

Self Catering Award – sponsored by Quality in Tourism, www.qualityintourism.com

Greenwood Grange, Dorchester – www.greenwoodgrange.co.uk

Lancombe Country Cottages & Lodges, Dorchester – www.lancombe.co.uk

Symondsbury Estate, Bridport – www.symondsburyestate.co.uk

Restaurant/Bistro of the Year – sponsored by Dorset Food & Drink, www.dorsetaonb.org.uk/food-and-drink

Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne – www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk

Koh Thai Tapas, Poole – www.koh-thai.co.uk

The Dorset Burger Company, Weymouth – www.thedorsetburgercompany.co.uk

The PIG – on the beach, Swanage – www.thepighotel.com

Award for Outstanding Contribution to Dorset Tourism

Award will be announced on the night

Winner of Winners – sponsored by Dorset LEP, www.dorsetlep.co.uk

Award will be announced on the night