The best of the best in Dorset's tourism industry have been recognised – and a 85ft long visitor to the county rose above the winners.
Dippy on Tour – the visit of the replica dinosaur to the Dorset County Museum – won the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award and the Tourism Event of the Year in the 2018 Dorset Tourism Awards.
It was among the west Dorset winners at the ceremony, held at Lighthouse Poole on Thursday night. The awards were presented by impressionist and Dorset resident Debra Stephenson.
Now in its sixth year, the awards broke all records in celebrating the best of Dorset tourism and also as the route for county businesses to win in the south west region.
Dippy on Tour saw the National History Museum's resident diplodocus comes to the Dorchester museum this year, the first stop on a nationwide tour.
Dippy contributed an estimated £1.1 million extra to Dorchester’s economy – with more than 153,000 people going to see it.
Dr Jon Murden, Director of Dorset County Museum, said: "We are delighted, and still a bit overwhelmed, to have been awarded both the ‘Tourism Event of the Year’ and the overall ‘Outstanding Contribution to Dorset Tourism’ for Dippy on Tour at Dorset County Museum.
"I am incredibly proud of the team at the museum and the army of Dippy volunteers who worked so hard to achieve the impossible. Dippy on Tour in Dorset broke all records and exceeded all expectations.
"Receiving these awards is fantastic recognition of the efforts of our team and the work of our partners at the Jurassic Coast Trust to bring this unique ‘once-in-a-life-time’ event to Dorset."
The prestigious Winner of Winners trophy went to Dorset House bed and breakfast in Lyme Regis, which also picked up a gold award for the third successive year.
Create at the Cove took gold for the inaugural New Tourism Business category, with Tourism Innovation gold going to Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum. Dorchester's newest museum also picked up silvers in the Access and Inclusivity and Small Attraction of the Year categories.
Director of Shire Hall, Anna Bright, said: “These awards mean the world to the team. Our volunteers work tirelessly to bring this fascinating and important museum to life, so we would especially like to thank them, and everyone who has supported us in our first six months.
“Every one of us is so passionate about Shire Hall and its message of social justice, so these awards are a wonderful validation of all our hard work. We have so many exciting ideas to grow and develop Shire Hall and we can’t wait to share our upcoming events and exhibitions with everyone.”
Opened in May, the museum looks at 200 years of justice, injustice, crime and punishment.
Jurassic Coast Guides won the Guided Tour gold, Lulworth Outdoors the gold for Learning Experience, while a food and drink gold was collected by The Acorn Inn in Evershot.
The inaugural award for Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable Tourism went to Bagwell Farm Touring Park, while Portland Port took gold for International and Inbound Visitor Experience.
The Dorset Tourism Awards have seen year on year growth since its launch in June 2013.
Robin Barker, who has led the awards throughout this development has been delighted with progress, saying: “This year has seen record entries, more sponsors and our most challenging judging ever. It has been an honour to be associated with so many outstanding businesses and I want to offer my congratulations to all the winners."
Successful businesses in the Dorset Awards will now be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2019.
Winners
ACCESS AND INCLUSIVITY AWARD
Gold: The Italian Villa, Poole
ACTIVE AND SPORTING EXPERIENCE AWARD
Gold: Moors Valley Go Ape!, Ringwood
B&B AND GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR
Gold: Dorset House, Lyme Regis
BUSINESS TOURISM AND VENUE AWARD
Gold: The Italian Villa, Poole
CAFÉ/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
Gold: Compton Acres Café and Tea Rooms, Poole
CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERSTAR AWARD
Dougie Macandrew, Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park
DOG FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Gold: South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Poole
GLAMPING & ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Gold: Bournemouth Beach Lodges
GUIDED TOUR OF THE YEAR
Gold: Jurassic Coast Guides, Milborne St Andrew
HOLIDAY PARK & VILLAGE OF THE YEAR
Gold: Rockley Park, Poole
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Gold: Portland Port Ltd
LARGE ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Gold: RockReef and PierZip on Bournemouth Pier
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Gold: Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch
LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Gold: Lulworth Outdoors, Lulworth
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO DORSET TOURISM
The Team who brought Dippy to Dorset
RESPONSIBLE ETHICAL & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
Gold: Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth
RESTAURANT/BISTRO OF THE YEAR
Gold: The Jetty, Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Christchurch
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Gold: Dove House & Swallows, Dorchester
SMALL ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Gold: Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park, Verwood
SMALL HOTEL/BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Gold : The Alexandra Hotel & Restaurant, Lyme Regis
SPA, PAMPERING & WELLBEING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Gold: Mellulah Therapy & Yoga Retreats, Milton Abbas
TOURING CAMPING AND CARAVANNING PARK OF THE YEAR
Gold: South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Poole
TOURISM EVENT/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Gold: Dippy on Tour, Dorchester
TOURISM INNOVATION AND NEW BUSINESS AWARD
Gold – Tourism Innovation
Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorchester
Gold – Tourism New Business
Create at the Cove, West Lulworth
TOURISM PUB OF THE YEAR
Gold: Acorn Inn, Evershot
VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR
Gold: Bridport Tourist Information Centre
WINNER OF WINNERS
Dorset House, Lyme Regis
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here